Sk. Mumtaz, a-45-year old Multani, is a reformed timber smuggler whose valuable information on the activities of his criminal compatriots had helped former Boath Inspector of Police B. Mohan in completely controlling illegal felling of forests in Ichoda, Neredigonda and Boath forest ranges. This period between 2012 and 2014 was a golden period in terms of check on timber smuggling.
“I became a forest protector taking advice from then Adilabad Divisional Forest Officer K. Mahender Reddy who helped my son study engineering,” Mumtaz recalled of the days of his transformation, unfortunately his son died before completion of the course. “Since then, I have been supporting forest people by providing information to them and to the police openly and was beaten up twice for my efforts,” he added.
Mumtaz, who also organises awareness programmes for youth in his community, unsuccessfully tried to meet Forest Minister Jogu Ramanna to complain to him about the incident wherein Ichoda police beat him for trying to provide information on the gang that beat up forest personnel in July. He is bitter about the treatment meted out to him. He accused the policemen of trying to protect the interests of the smugglers and demands action against them.
