MANSEHRA, Sept 1: A controversy has developed over the transfer of more than 150 kanals of forest land, with people here resisting their takeover by one Mohammad Qalandar and his family members.

Talking to journalists here on Saturday, Joint Forest Management Committee president Mohammad Younas said a local resident, Mohammad Qalander, had transferred the 170-kanal land, worth over Rs30 million, in the Chimyal forest area in the name of his brothers and sons. He said the “fake documentation” had been completed with the help of officials of forest, revenue and police departments.

However, he said, when Mr Qalander and his men tried to take possession of the land, local people resisted the move and they could not take control of it.

Mr Younas said there were over Rs20 million trees of Biar, a rare kind of trees, in the Chimyal forest. He said the committee had filed cases against Mr Qalandar in court.