Haldwani, April 17 -- Forest department authorities have initiated legal action after 60 fruit-bearing trees were allegedly cut illegally in an orchard in the Ramnagar area of Nainital district, officials said. According to officials, the incident occurred on Tuesday in Bedajhal village, a designated fruit belt in Ramnagar, where trees spread across nearly 12 bighas of land were felled. The chopped trees included 48 mango and 12 litchi trees. Villagers informed the forest department soon after noticing the illegal activity. A team from the Aampokhra forest range reached the site and conducted an inspection, confirming the large-scale felling. Gopal Singh Chauhan, Ramnagar sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), said a preliminary inquiry indicated that Tabbar, the orchard owner, and Iqbal, a resident of Telipura, were allegedly involved in cutting the trees. "It was a preliminary inquiry that Tabbar as the orchard owner while Iqbal, a resident of Telipura, was allegedly involved in cutting the trees. We directed officials to register an FIR against the accused," Chauhan said. Terai West forest division DFO Prakash Chandra Arya said proceedings have been initiated under Section 4/10 of the Tree Protection Act. "An S-2 case has also been registered at the departmental level in the matter," Arya said. Arjun Singh Parwal, horticulture officer Nainital, Arjun Singh said the horticulture department had not granted permission for felling or pruning in the area....