32 pieces of guan, sundari log seized
The Bhitarakanika forest personnel arrested two timber mafias and seized 32 pieces of guan and sundari wood log and a fishing net from their possession in the Bhitarkanika protected forest area on Wednesday.
According to Kanika Forest Ranger Akhaya Kumar Nayak, some timber mafias on Tuesday night entered into the forest and cut down some trees of mangrove species. A team conducted the raid and arrested the two near Bhusanbanka while they were unloading the log pieces.
The arrested have been identified as Nakula Chandra Maiti and Abhiram Giri of Sana Gokhani village under Rajnagar block.
The two booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 were produced before the JMFC court of Pattamundai and remanded into jail custody after their bail petitions were rejected.
Meanwhile, Rajnagar DFO Kedar swain has directed Ranger Nayak to conduct an inquiry to find out if forest officials helped the two miscreants in the illegal act. Nayak said driver of the boat Rabi Das and helper Hemant Moharana are being quizzed now.