The police investigating the killing of 60 fully grown trees along the Eastern Express Highway (EEH) at Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar appear to be in the woods and failed to make significant progress in the last 10 months. Three FIRs have been registered since the last 10 months and the latest on April 16 by civic officials at the Pant Nagar police station regarding the killing of the trees. Based on the drill marks on the tree trunks, the civic officials suspect that trees were deliberately poisoned to benefit the advertisement hoarding agency along the highway. The trees that perished were planted by BMC along the EEH at Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar.  

“After registering an FIR, we scrutinised CCTV footage in the area, but have found nothing suspicious. We are investigating the matter,” said Rajendra Kevle, senior police inspector of Pantnagar police station.
 
It is suspected that the death of the trees will result in an unhindered view of the hoardings. “The Pantnagar police station has registered three FIRs and two non-cognizable offence cases in this matter. To my knowledge the crime has been happening near the BPCL Petrol Pump, which is just opposite Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar and I suspect the hoardings to be illegal,” BJP leader Kirit Somaiya told mid-day. He said that he has written to the municipal commissioner seeking a thorough investigation in this matter. “The police are not investigating the matter thoroughly. They swung into action only after media reports and have done nothing so far,” he said.