FIR registered against 10 identfied, 40 unidentified accused for uprooting plants in Bara, main instigator arrested: DC Khyber
TLTP
KHYBER
Scores of people uprooted trees planted in Khyber district by the government as a part of a countrywide plantation drive on Sunday.
Chaos ensued immediately after PTI lawmaker Iqbal Afridi’s campaign — part of the 10 Billion Tree Tsunami initiative being commemorated on Tiger Force Day — concluded and residents of the area arrived at the site to remove the newly-planted trees.
They staged a protest against the local administration for planting the trees on disputed land without seeking permission. The protesting men had black flags in their hands and chanted slogans against the government.
MNA Iqbal Afridi tried to pacify the protesters but they didn’t listen to him and started uprooting the recently planted trees. More than 6,000 new trees were planted in the area, according to the district administration.
Deputy Commissioner Khyber Mahmood Aslam said there was dispute between two groups over land owned by the Sipah tribe. “One of the groups gave permission for the plantation drive; the other uprooted them,” he said. Aslam added that authorities were reviewing the situation in order to proceed with legal action over the matter.
KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan, on the other hand, has taken notice of the incident and ordered action against those responsible for uprooting the newly-planted trees.
Meanwhile, Police on Sunday arrested main instigator and registered FIR against 50 others accused allegedly involved in uprooting new planted saplings at Bara in Khyber tribal district.
Deputy Commissioner Khyber, Mehmood Aslam Wazir told APP that FIR has been registered at Bara police station against 10 identfied and 40 unidentified accused for uprooting new planted saplings at tehsil Bara of Khyber tribal district today.
“In response to today’s incident, an FIR No 137/2020 has been registered at Bara Police station Khyber under sections 353,186,427,382,148/149 PPC. Ten persons are nominated by name in the FIR in addition to 40 unidentified,” DC Khyber, Mahmood Aslam Wazir said.
He said police have arrested one main accused and instigator of the whole episode named Abdul Salam s/o Wali Khan belonged to Sipah tribe while five accused from other unidentified are arrested.
He said raids for the arrest of remaining accused are underway.
Following a video viral on social media regarding uprooting of new planted saplings in Bara tehsil, he said district administration have started investigation and found that the incident was occured due to misunderstanding and land dispute between two tribes.
He said elders and people of the said tribe have expressed sorry over the said incident and assured the district administration to replant all the uprooted saplings by themselves besides promised to plant more plants voluntarily in the wake of tigers force plantation day.
He said over one lakh saplings were planted during tigers force plantation day in Khyber district.
The plantations events were held in all three tehsils of the district attended by MPAs, DC, Additional Deputy Commissioner, ACs and volunteers of Tiger Force besides people and took active part in plantations by planting record saplings.
