Timber Mafia Attack And Injure Forest Officials in Athagarh, One Arrested  

Athagarh: Forest officials including Athagarh Forest Ranger Rabindra Kumar Nayak faced an attack by the timber mafia following the seizure of a timber-laden truck.

According to sources, the forest officials were returning to office after seizing an illegal timber-laden truck, when they were stopped by a group of miscreants, who assaulted the driver and fled from the spot along with the truck.

The forest ranger and his team chased them and seized the truck again. During the operation, the Forest Range Officer Ravindra Kumar Nayak and five other forest officials faced attack of the miscreants and sustained injuries.

The police have arrested a person identified as Prakash Chandra Das in connection with the incident. The forest department has also seized the truck and the illegal timber.