Ludhiana, Dec. 7 -- The city police have booked a resident of Mullanpur Garibdass in Mohali, along with his seven unidentified accomplices, for allegedly stealing 33 khair (acacia catechu) trees from the Mattewara forest area.

The incident took place in February 2024, but officials said the Ludhiana divisional forest department took nearly a year and a half to trace one of the key suspects.

Once the accused was identified, the department filed a formal complaint, following which an FIR was registered at the Meharban police station.

According to the complaint filed by district forest officer (DFO) Rajesh Gulati, the prime accused, Kulwinder Singh, and his associates allegedly chopped and transported the trees using a canter truck.

DFO ...