Forest Department cracks down on illegal sale of sawn timber: Auto seized with sawn timber, one arrested

The forest department is keeping a close watch on illegal timber trafficking and looting of forest resources in Kandhamal district. In this regard, the forest department has achieved great success during patrolling in Belghar forest under Tumjibandh block. The forest department has seized 12 pieces of shaal wood while conducting a raid while illegally transporting it and arrested an accused. According to information, the forest officials of Belghar forest while conducting regular patrolling saw suspiciously transporting shaal wood near Dhummamaska village. At this time, 12 pieces of shaal wood were seized. The estimated market value of the seized wood is Rs 32,452, according to the forest department. In this incident, the Bajaj auto rickshaw No. OD-08-Q-9033 used for transporting wood has also been seized. The arrested accused is Babulal Bagh (43) of Shardhapur village under Ambadola police station in Rayagada district. In this regard, a case has been registered by Belghar Range under Case No. 33/2026-27. Further investigation is underway by the Forest Department to find out where the seized wood came from and whether anyone else is involved in its transportation. Belghar Forester Rajeshwar Badamajhi, Gumma Forester Deepak Pradhan, Dharanimaska Forest Guard Sandeep Das and Bulu Marshi Sethi of the Forest Department Protection Team were prominently involved in the search. It is widely hoped that if the Forest Department continues such regular searches to protect forest resources, illegal wood transportation will be curbed.