SWAT: A forest guard was shot and injured allegedly by a timber smuggler in Kringal area of Khwazakhela tehsil here on Wednesday.

According to Khwazakhela police, forest guard Noor Khan had received information that Sher Khan, an alleged timber smuggler, was felling trees in Kringal forest of Chalyar village.

They said that the forest guard reached the site and Noor Khan opened firing on him that left him injured. They said that the suspect managed to escape.

The injured forest guard was shifted to hospital for medical assistance. Police registered a case against the suspect.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Shehzad Mehboob said that people should actively participate in the plantation drive and play their role in improving the environment.

He was addressing ‘billion tree plus plantation drive’ in Saidu Sharif where he planted a sapling on behalf of district youth and district sports officers and prayed for the success of the campaign.

District youth officer Farhad Ali and district sports officer Obaidullah were also present on the occasion.

He said that planting trees was a national and social duty.

“Every citizen should actively participate in the plantation campaign and take care of trees,” he said. He added that it was not enough to plant trees but it was also important to protect and take care of them.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2024