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Srinagar, Nov 19: The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Jhelum Valley Forest Division Zahid Aslam has rejected recent media reports alleging large-scale forest destruction and negligence by officials in compartment 55 of the Boniyar range in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, terming them “misleading” and contrary to documented facts.

In an official statement, the department said the reports ignore the immediate action taken by field staff in two isolated incidents of tree damage detected earlier this month.

According to the DFO, field staff detected the illicit felling of one Deodar tree on November 10–11. The Block Forest Officer (BFO) and frontline staff rushed to the spot, seized a Deodar log and illicit firewood, and filed an application for FIR.

Police subsequently re

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