Man Impersonating As Forest Officer Arrested In Odisha’s Keonjhar

Ghatagaon: A man has been arrested in Odisha’s Keonjhar district for allegedly impersonating as an Odisha Forest Service (OFS) officer and promising employment to youths in the Forest department. The accused was identified as Sujit Kumar Padhiary from Erabanka village under Bari block of Jajpur.

According to reports, the accused claimed to be an Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF). For the last few days, Padhiary was camping in Ghatagaon, putting up in a lodge. He allegedly spread the word around that he could give employment to local youths in exchange for money.

But local residents got suspicious and found out that he was an impersonator. He was thrashed by the locals and handed over to police.

Police recovered several SIM cards, a mobile phone, a Bullet motorcycle, fake uniforms of the Forest department, forged ID cards, three ATM cards and Rs 12,000 from him. Police said Padhiary was a history-sheeter and had committed crimes in Puri, Angul and Jajpur districts, besides Keonjhar.