Dehradun, Aug. 24 -- Over 7,300 forest boundary pillars have been reported missing in the Mussoorie Forest Division, as per internal data from the state forest department, raising concerns of encroachment in the seven forest ranges across the division and prompting the initiation of an official probe into the matter. According to two letters addressed to principal chief conservator of forests Samir Sinha by chief conservator of forests Sanjiv Chaturvedi on June 21 and August 20 respectively, 7,375 boundary pillars- comprising nearly 60% of the total number of pillars (12,321) in the division, were missing. The letters were verified by HT. The first letter, that is a review of the Mussoorie Forest Division's working plan, revealed that the pillars were shown on the map, but missing from the group, calling the disappearance of such a large number "extremely unusual". The letter recommended an investigation by a special investigation team (SIT) or CBI, under judicial supervision. "The disappearance of such a large number of boundary pillars suggests the involvement of officials and employees stationed there at the time, along with high-level political patronage, without which this crime would not have been possible. These pillars were intentionally removed as part of a conspiracy to facilitate large-scale forest land encroachment by criminal elements for non-forestry purposes. This criminal breach of trust not only jeopardises the state's ecological security but also constitutes a betrayal of public property", it added, further stressing that areas in the Mussoorie Forest Division particularly vulnerable to encroachment were the forest areas of the Raipur and Mussoorie, adjacent to Dehradun and where most of these boundary pillars (nearly 6000) were missing. It also calls for sufficient funds from the state government to complete proper demarcation and re-establishment of the missing pillars within two to three years, along with a probe into the assets of all DFOs, conservators, chief forest conservators and rangers who were posted in the area at the time. When contacted, Samir Sinha said, "We are already looking into this matter and an investigation has been started. Conservator of forests Shivalik Range Rajeev Dhiman has been tasked to carry out the investigation in this matter. Soon, he will submit his report into the matter." Amit Kanwar, DFO Mussoorie, "It is not clear whether the pillars were made to disappear or they were never there in the first place. This matter came to light first in 2023. We are conducting ground verification in the six ranges to check where encroachments have been made in the absence of the pillars that demarcate the forest land. We are also using GPS technology and satellite imagery to check the location of the pillars on the map, and then on the ground, to check where the boundary lies and where encroachments have been made. After identifying the encroachments, we will start the legal proceedings to remove them."...