Nayagarh: Forest department officials on Monday arrested as many as 12 persons, including the prime accused, in connection with the recent wildfire in Satkosia Wildlife Sanctuary that led to destruction of massive forest wealth.
According to reports, the accused had allegedly set a portion of the forest on fire to divert the attention of the officials while illegally transporting cattle from Sonepur district of Odisha to Kolkata.
They used to transport cattle from Sonepur to Narsinghpur through the sanctuary and later smuggle them to Kolkata, informed Divisional Forest Officer of Satkosia Wildlife Forest department, SST Rehman.
A total of 12 persons from Boudh, Athmallik and Narsinghpur have been arrested along with the main accused Ibrahim Khan from Khurda, he added.