Baripada: The Sub-Divisional Judicial Magistrate (SDJM) Court in Udala, Mayurbhanj convicted two persons for transporting forest timber.
SDJM Anurag Dehury sentenced Ajay Dandpat and Dayanidhi Behera to three years of imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 each. In case of default, they will have to undergo an additional one month of simple imprisonment.
The duo was arrested on December 2, 2016, while transporting Piasala timber on a motorcycle, violating the Orissa Timber and Other Forest Produce Transit Rules, 1980. The court emphasised the gravity of environmental offences and the need for appropriate punishment to protect ecological balance.
