Illegal felling of Khair trees: Pinjore man gets 18-month jail term for assaulting forest staff

A sessions court in Panchkula sentenced a 20-year-old Pinjore man to 18 months of simple imprisonment for illegally felling khair trees and assaulting forest officials.

The incident occurred on February 21, 2025, when a forest department patrol discovered illegal tree cutting near Chapra Dam in Nanakpur block and was attacked with sticks.

Forest inspector Deepak Kumar suffered a fractured right hand during the assault, and other team members were injured.

The accused, Sandeep Singh alias Deepa, was convicted under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita including voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from duty, theft, and related charges.

The court rejected defence objections about missing weapon recovery and identification parade, ruling the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.