Forest officials seize timber worth lakhs in Bolangir

Bolangir: The officials of Bolangir Forest Division seized a truck transporting timber illegally worth lakhs near Deogaon rail crossing in Bolangir district today. According to sources, the forest division had received a tip-off yesterday about illegal transportation of the timbers to Bargarh district.

Following instructions of Bolangir DFO, Sameer Satpathy, a squad from Saintala range of Deogaon intercepted the truck, sources said.

The forest officials seized 74 pieces of wood logs and arrested 6 persons. The officials also seized a car and a bike used for the smuggling of timber. Among the six arrested persons, five have been indentified to be from Bargarh while one of them is a resident of Sonepur district, informed sources.

"The timbers were already loaded into the truck before I took off. They (smugglers) just said me to drive the truck to the destination. Some of the locals informed me about the wood after I took-off," said Mubarak Khan, the driver of the truck.

Bolangir Forester, Vyasadev Sahu said "The truck was loaded with 74 Kendu tree logs. Six persons have been arrested in this connection while a truck, car and a bike have also been seized."