Forest personnel of the Kanika range on Friday arrested five persons and seized a tractor loaded with wood logs while they were trying to flee the spot. The smugglers had cut precious mangrove species by slyly entering into the Ragadapatia forest in Bhitarkanika National Park.
Ranger Akhaya Kumar Nayak said the arrested were Abhaya Kumar Behera, Ramakanta Nayak and Purna Jena of Baradiha village and Golakha Behera and Harihar Nayak of Dangamala village under Rajnagar block. They were to be produced in a local court on Saturday.