On Friday morning, six people were arrested for illegally cutting trees in the Kumrat Forest in the Upper Dir of Malakand, said a media source.

Commissioner of Malakand Riaz Mehsud had received complaints from residents about people cutting trees in the area.

When the commissioner reached the spot on Friday, there he found six people and two trucks loaded with trunks of pine tree. The lorries were impounded.

Thall police station has filed an FIR, and the men are in police custody.

Commissioner Mehsud said cutting trees and destroying the region’s forests would not be tolerated, and violators would be harshly punished.

He has visited many areas of Malakand and he takes note of all concerns regarding these things.

More recently, Mehsud also reported a case of illegally cutting trees in the scenic Kumrat and Kalam valleys. A total of 25 departmental Forest officers were suspended.