Baripada: In a major operation against illegal timber activities, the Baripada Forest Division, aided by the Vigilance Team of Balasore, conducted raids on the properties of Gyanaranjan Das in Rangamatia Village under Kaptipada Range on July 20 and 21, 2025.
During the raids, three persons identified as Samarendra Bhuyan (31), Rajendra Kumar Bhuyan (36) and Das (34) were arrested, informed Baripada DFO Uma Mahesh.
A large quantity of timber and equipment was seized from their possession. The confiscated items include 465.32 cft (approx.) of teak, sal, and acacia timber, 120 quintals of sawn firewood, a Tata Ace vehicle fitted with a mobile sawmill, another Tata Ace vehicle fitted with a Kirloskar silent diesel generator, sawmill blades, sharpening grinder, and other equipment.
The operation involved nearly 25 staff members from the Forest Department and Odisha Forest Development Corporation (OFDC) and is expected to significantly curb illegal timber processing activities in the region.
