Himachal Pradesh Forest Minister, Thakur Roop Singh warned that the forest mafia in the state would be crushed with an iron hand. He said a drive had been launched against illicit felling and smuggling through out the state. He extolled the role of village forest development committees which are playing pioneering role not only in preservation and conservation of forest wealth but also in providing secret information to the forest officials about the smuggling of timber and other forest offenses.