DADU, Feb 7: The forest department has launched a campaign against state land encroachers in 24 forests of Dadu district and lodged seven FIRs against 23 influential landlords on Friday.

Two teams of the forest department conducted raids at Unnarpur Amri, Rajri, Manjhand, Sona Bindi, Kundah, Gugah, Khairo Dero, K.T. Lelya, Nari, Kacho Magsi, Kacho Sita and Sui Channa forests and found some 25,000 acres of land occupied by 500 landlords.

Later the police of Amri, Rajri, Thariri, Budhapur, Unnarpur and Mahi Oatho registered seven FIRs, under section 26, 27 and 64 of the Forest Act, against 23 influential landlords.

Those nominated in the FIRs included Ali Akbar Chhajro, Khan Chhajro, Aziz, Hidayat, Ayub, Mir Dost, Mashooq, Dito, Jaisar Khan, Siddiq, Dawood, Ghulam Nabi, Sain Dino and Beero Machhi.

Divisional forest officer Mohammad Anwar Baloch told journalists that about 500 influential persons had occupied 25,000 acres of land in 24 forests of the district.

He said that the department had asked the police to register FIRs against the landlords.

When contacted, DPO Ali Akbar Bhangwar said that he had received a long list of influential persons from the forest department, who had occupied forest land.

He said that FIRs would be registered against them and they would be arrested under the Forest Act.