The forest land was allegedly set afire by unknown miscreants thereby affecting 20,000 saplings. (Photo: Representational image)

Mumbai: In the light of the destruction of eight acres of saplings due to the fire in the forest area near Mangrul village, Ambernath on Tuesday night, Kalyan’s MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde has alleged that the forest was torched from 10 different places.

In July, Mr Shinde had spearheaded a plantation drive in the hilly forested area, where one lakh saplings were planted. The forest land was allegedly set afire by unknown miscreants thereby affecting 20,000 saplings. Witnessing the large scale destruction of the forest land,  the MP and forest officials have suspected land grabbers behind the incident.