Kathua, Feb 7: In a swift crackdown on alleged police corruption, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Kathua Mohita Sharma (IPS) has suspended a Head Constable following a detailed internal inquiry into his purported collusion with khair (acacia catechu) smugglers operating in the district.
The suspension order, issued Saturday, comes after credible intelligence and evidence surfaced linking the head constable—stationed at a key police post in Kathua—to illicit khair smuggling networks that have plagued the region for years. Khair, a valuable timber used for extracting catechu (kattha) in pan masala and traditional medicines, remains a high-demand contraband smuggled across Jammu and Kashmir’s porous borders, often fueling organized crime and environmental degradation through illegal felling in protected forests.
Sources within the J&K Police revealed that the inquiry was triggered by a tip-off highlighting suspicious patterns: repeated failure to intercept smuggling consignments, selective enforcement during raids, and unexplained associations with known timber mafia operatives. The head constable, whose identity is withheld pending formal chargesheet, allegedly provided cover for truckloads of smuggled khair crossing checkpoints under his jurisdiction, accepting bribes in exchange for safe passage.
SSP Sharma, known for her zero-tolerance stance on graft since taking charge, ordered the immediate suspension to prevent further collusion while a comprehensive probe unfolds under the Vigilance wing. “This action underscores our commitment to internal cleansing and public trust. No leniency for those undermining law enforcement,” Sharma stated, emphasizing that departmental proceedings will run parallel to any criminal case if evidence warrants.
Khair smuggling has surged in Kathua and adjacent Samba districts, driven by lucrative black-market prices—raw logs fetch ₹2,000-3,000 per quintal, with processed catechu commanding even higher rates in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Last year alone, forest officials seized over 500 tonnes of illicit khair worth crores, but police nexus allegations have hampered sustained crackdowns. Environmentalists warn that rampant tree felling threatens local biodiversity and soil conservation in the Shivalik foothills.
The suspension has sent ripples through local police ranks, with officers praising Sharma’s proactive move amid rising public scrutiny on forest crime. The J&K Police’s Anti-Corruption Bureau may expand the investigation if financial trails emerge, potentially implicating higher networks. Community leaders in Kathua hailed the decision, urging similar purges across smuggling hotspots.
Further developments expected as the inquiry progresses, with the suspended constable’s postings and assets under scanner
