Two staff members of the tollgate at Sergad have been arrested and further forwarded to court by Khantapada police in connection with the Saturday incident in which it was alleged that cattle smuggling through this gate was done in connivance with the staff of the gate.
They were identified as, Panchanan Behera), manager of toll plaza, and Sashikanta Behera (61), a duty staff.
On Saturday, two cattle-laden containers had been seized near the gate and cattle were rescued.
The incident while triggered commotion among the locals, it further aggravated after it was learnt that three other containers too passed through the gate without checking and paying the toll tax .Following report of the incident, the Khantapada police while arrested eight cattle smugglers, these two staffs were apprehended by them after learning about their mischief.
Five containers from Khordha were going to West Bengal when two of them besides an escorting Bolero make vehicle were intercepted near the tollgate by the locals.The police investigation revealed connivance of toll gate staff.
Meanwhile, in connection with an incident of armed loot from a passenger bus in Nilgiri on Saturday night, the local police arrested one of the accused while three others are at large.The arrestee was identified as Lambodhar Biswal alias Lambu of Gudisolo village under Nilgiri police station limits. The absconding accused persons were identified as Biju Mahakud of Baunsanal village, Japura Singh of Badabil and Madhia Baug villages, Sajanagad.According to reports, these accused persons not only looted the conductor of Bhubaneswar bound night bus from Sarat (Mayurbhanj) on Saturday night by flaunting guns and choppers, they also misbehaved with the passengers.
The conductor, Gobinda Behera, alleged that they had looted Rs 20,000 cash and his gold chain.Regarding the incident, he immediately lodged an FIR with the police.
In another development, the district police intensifying raids on illegal cracker manufacturing units arrested three persons . The raids were conducted in Oupada, Nilgiri and Rupsa area. They seized a huge quantity of materials from them.
The accused persons were identified as Rabindra Sahu of village Hirapur (Rupsa), Sanjib Barik, Berhampur (Nilgiri) and Mir Mukundar (Tentulipada, Oupda) .