Apr 29, Kathmandu- A Nepali labourer has been caught red-handed in Uttarakhand for setting fire to a reserved forest. The accused who was arrested in the Kotdwar range of Lansdowne Forest Division has been sent to jail, while a case has been registered against the other accused under the Forest Act.

The forest staff of Land Conservation Forest Division Lansdowne caught a Nepalese labourer named Tekram while setting fire to the forest and handed him over to the police. His other three associates have also given statements against the accused.

On Sunday, one person was caught red-handed while the forest workers were returning after extinguishing the fire in Nakkhet in Kulhar. A gas lighter was also in the hand of the person who was arrested.

At some distance from the incident site, his three other associates were working on laying the pipeline. The foresters took all four to the Lansdowne range office.

Witnesses Rajendra, Satish Kumar and Ranjit Singh admitted that Tekaram set fire to the forest. All four have been handed over to the police. A case has been registered against Tekaram under the Forest Act on the charge of arson in the forest. It is said that action will be taken in this matter soon.