JK Excise dept foils smuggling bid of willow clefts to Punjab

Jammu and Kashmir Excise and Taxation department has foiled a bid to smuggle 3,200 willow clefts to Punjab from the state.
During routine checking by the sleuths of Excise and Taxation Department at Toll Post Lakhanpur in Kathua district, a truck was found loaded with 148 bundles of unfinished cricket bats which were being smuggled from Kathua to Punjab, Dy Excise Commissioner, Rajesh Sharma said.
The truck was loaded with 3,200 willow clefts but the willows were given fake finished look to dodge the toll post barrier Lakshanpur, he said.
The truck and willow clefts were seized and ten-times penalty of the value of willow cleft was imposed as violation of toll-tax, he said.

The seized truck and willow clefts have been handed over to forest department for legal action as the transportation of willow clefts is totally banned to other state under Forest Act.