Jharsuguda: The Belpahar Forest Division of Jharsuguda district has seized 2 quintals and 87 kilograms of kendu leaves and impounded an auto-rickshaw during a late-night operation near the Belpahar Durga Temple.
Two persons have been arrested in connection with the seizure, officials said on Thursday.
The accused have been identified as Saidul Bibi (39), a resident of West Bengal, and the auto driver Javed Khan (34), a native of Jharsuguda. Both have been produced before a local court.
Belpahar Range Officer Pradeep Nayak said the estimated value of the seized tendu leaves is approximately ₹1.5 lakh.
According to forest department sources, a specific tip-off was received from a reliable informant that kendu leaves were being illegally transported in an auto-rickshaw from Jharsuguda towards Belpahar. Acting on the directions of Range Officer Nayak, a forest team tracked the vehicle and successfully intercepted it near the Durga Temple.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly told officials that they had procured the kendu leaves from Rajpur and had themselves arrived by train from Kharagpur.
Further investigation is underway.
