Billion tree tsunami nursery set on fire in KP's Lakki Marwat district

Published October 9, 2018
Chir Pine and Kachnar saplings ready for plantation at a nursery. —File photo
Chir Pine and Kachnar saplings ready for plantation at a nursery. —File photo

Unidentified suspects set on fire a billion tree tsunami nursery in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday, destroying thousands of saplings, local police said.

The government forest was set on fire over an alleged enmity with the caretaker of the forest, police said while sharing initial information about the fire with DawnNewsTV.

Prime Minister Imran Khan had inaugurated the billion tree tsunami plantation drive in 2015 on the bank of the Kurram river in the district. More than 130,000 saplings were planted back then.

Station House Officer (SHO) Gul Muhammad of the city police station told DawnNewsTV that police have registered an FIR against unidentified suspects for destroying the forest. He said police have also received an application from the caretaker of the nursery.

The caretaker has alleged that three to four men from his opponent tribe were involved in the incident, the SHO revealed.

So far no arrests have been made in connection with the case, the officer said, adding that the police have initiated an investigation into the matter.

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