An advertisement by edtech company Physics Wallah showing its faculty “illegally” driving through Baderkote forests in Tangmarg near Baramulla’s Gulmarg has triggered concerns over damage to the Valley’s ecology and prompted a police investigation.
An FIR was registered at the Tangmarg police station on the complaint of Forest Range Officer Gulmarg, Iftikhar Ahmad Qadri.
“A video was uploaded on YouTube showing six black Scorpio vehicles, without any registration plate, entering illegally in the forest area without any permission from any competent authority of the forest department,” the complaint states. “After verification from field staff of Baderkote forest block, it came forth that the video has been shot in the forest area (of) Baderkote forest block.”
Physics Wallah, which has several branches in Kashmir, had used the footage to promote ‘Toofan’, its initiative for students of Classes 9 to 12. The video showed six black Scorpios being driven through the forest area and lush pastures, sparking outrage, with many questioning how a company that “vandalises” the Valley’s fragile ecosystem can teach students about conservation.
The forest officer’s complaint said the video clearly showed that the “vehicles were driven off-road over the green meadows in forest area resulting in damage to various herbs and other flora of the forest thus violating Indian Forest Act 1927 and Forest Conservation Act 1980.”
Police have registered cases under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for mischief, causing loss or damage to government property, and criminal trespass, along with sections of the Indian Forest Act.
The incident comes 20 days after police booked several YouTubers for damaging the fragile ecosystem in the Breinwar forest area of central Kashmir’s Budgam. A video showing them driving through Budgam’s pastures and meadows had similarly sparked outrage, prompting Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohidin to order an FIR.
