Dhenkanal: Alleged high-handedness of a government official came to light here today after a forest range officer reportedly forced a village head to kneel down after branding him as a timber mafia.
The incident which took place near Alakata village under Prajanga Block in Dhenkanal district was captured in a video which went viral on the social media. In the video, Kailash Behera, the village head of Alakata, was seen kneeling down before the ranger and some others along a road.
According to reports, Behera along with his son was going to a relative's house when they were intercepted by the forest ranger near Mahavir Road. Accusing him of having links with wood mafia, the forest ranger forced him to kneel down.
Behera's son alleged that the forest ranger also slapped and beat up his father. Sources said, Kailash was earlier arrested on charges of wood smuggling.