The forest personnel of the Bhitarkanika National Park on Thursday arrested 12 fishermen and seized 11 mechanised boats along with 10 quintals of Bani logs from their possessions while they were smuggling them from the Bhitarkanika National Park.
Kanika Forest Ranger Akhaya Kumar Nayak said acting on a tipoff, the forest personnel conducted a raid and nabbed the fishermen near Kantiakhai protected forest within Bhitarkanika. They had entered into the area under the pretext of fishing.
later, on Friday, the 12 arrested were produced before JMFC, Pattamundai under the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 and Orissa Timber Transit Rules, 1980. They were remanded to jail custody after their bail pleas were rejected. Nayak said the arrested belong to Begunia and Tentulidiha under Bansada police limits of Bhadrak district.