Police has raided three Kattha (acacia catechu) factories in which the shamed and ousted BJP minister Choudhary Lal Singh is believed to own a share, reported the Greater Kashmir.
According to the report, acacia catechu (kattha) worth crores of rupees was seized, which was probably in excess of that permitted under the licence, the police told Greater Kashmir.
“Our teams raided one factory in Kathua and two in Samba districts today,” inspector general of police Jammu zone SD Singh Jamwal said.
Kattha is extracted from wood of Khair tree. These trees, (botanical name Acacia) are found in abundance in the forests of the Chenab Valley and Kathua and Samba. Kattha powder sells for up to Rs 270 (200 gms) in the market.
The police official said the factories raided had remained closed for 30-40 years but were given permission to reopen in May last year during Lal Singh’s tenure as forest minister.
An official privy to the raids said that locals present there have told the police that LaL Singh has a share in these factories.
Asked about Lal Singh’s involvement, the IGP said, “This is the matter of investigation. Once investigations are carried forward things will become clear.”
Singh along with the former Industries Minister Chander Prakash Ganga had rallied in favour of the accused in Kathua rape and murder case.
Both the ministers were forced to resign and the BJP had said that they were ‘misled and misguided by a few people.’
