Authorities today foiled a bid to smuggle banned medicinal herbs and seized nearly 210 kg from Udhampur Railway station in Jammu and Kashmir.
Acting on a tip off, a team of forest officers headed by Divisional Forest Officer Udhampur Harmohinder Singh and Conservator Forest east circle Jammu B M Sharma conducted a raid at Railway Station in Udhampur, Forest department officials said.
During the raid, they seized medicinal herb Viola Odorata(Gul-e-Banafsha) weighing 209.50 kg packed in 10 bags from platform number 1 of Udhampur railway station lying near container of Uttar Samparak Kranti Express, they said.
However, no one has been arrested and investigation has been started, they said.
Viola odorata is a species of the genus Viola native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australia. It is a hardy herbaceous flowering perennial.
In herbal medicine, Viola odorata has been used for a variety of respiratory ailments, digestive problems, insomnia, and skin disorders.
