Forest Department officials on Saturday evening intercepted an auto-rickshaw at Banjeri Junction on the Parlakhemundi-R Udayagiri State Highway in Gajapati district and seized 1.5 quintals of red sandalwood being transported to Andhra Pradesh. Two accused, identified as Biraj Ancfrappu (30) and Venkatesh Misal (28) of Rayagada block of Gajapati, were arrested.
Earlier, Gajapati DFO Sangram Keshari Behera had informed the Mahendragiri and Devagiri Forest Ranges officials to check all movements on the State Highway. And during the checking, three logs of red sandalwood being carried in the auto-rickshaw were detected. Notably, red sandalwood is found in the tribal blocks of Gumma, Rayagada, Nuagada, RUdayagiri and Mohana in the district. It has a high value due to its medicinal properties. So, the timber mafia is plundering the forests and smuggling it outside the State under the very nose of police officials.
