FIR Registered Against Two for Illegal Sand Mining on Forest Land in Chararsharief

Budgam: In a major crackdown against environmental violations, Budgam Police has registered an FIR against two individuals for illegal sand mining on forest land in Chalyan village of Charar Sharief area. The action was taken following a formal complaint filed by the Doodh Ganga Forest Range, Chadoora.

The two accused — Mushtaq Ahmad, a resident of Watkaloo and Bashir Ahmad, a resident of Chadoora — have been booked for engaging in large-scale illegal excavation of sand and clay in the Darwan and Chalyan areas of the Doodh Ganga Forest Range. It has been reported that the accused used heavy machinery, including a JCB, to carry out the mining operations.

According to officials, the illegal activities intensified recently when law enforcement agencies were preoccupied with maintaining order following the tragic killings of 28 tourists in Pahalgam. Taking advantage of the situation, the accused allegedly increased their mining activities, causing substantial damage to the fragile forest ecosystem.

An FIR — No. 26/2025 dated 28.04.2025 — has been registered at Police Station Chararsharief under Section 303(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 26 of the Indian Forest Act, 1926, for theft and damaging forest property.

Environmental activist Dr. Raja Muzaffar Bhat, who had earlier highlighted the issue on social media and through detailed articles, welcomed the police action.

“I am grateful to DFO Pir Panjal Forest Division Budgam, the Range Officer, SDPO Chrar Sharief and the SHO Chararsharief for taking swift action. I also appreciate Chief Conservator Forests (CCF) Irfan Rasool for personally intervening in this matter,” said Dr. Bhat.
“It is shameful that criminals exploited a time of national mourning to loot natural resources. The accused should be severely punished, and their machinery confiscated. Officials from the Geology and Mining Department must also be held accountable, and environmental compensation should be recovered from them.”

Dr. Bhat had recently brought the issue into public focus, prompting authorities to act swiftly.

Authorities have assured strict action against all those involved, including seizure of machinery and initiation of environmental damage assessments to ensure accountability.