Bhubaneswar: Vigilance officials on Wednesday arrested four persons and seized minor mineral worth over Rs 47 lakh being smuggled in Jajpur district.
Acting on reliable information regarding smuggling of minor minerals from forest area, the Forest unit of Cuttack Vigilance Division along with local Forest staff of Dalijoda forest range conducted a joint raid at Srirampur toll gate under Badachana police station.
During the raid, two TATA Haiwa and two trucks loaded with minor mineral worth Rs 47,19,000 were seized. As four persons carrying the mineral could not produce document in support of transportation, they were arrested.
In this connection, 4 forest cases have been registered under Dalijoda Forest Range and the arrested persons forwarded to the JMFC court, Chandikhol.
In another raid conducted at Dalaka Sahi and Patna villages under Kaliapani police station in Jajpur district, 14 pieces of timber worth Rs 1,54,500 were seized near Daitari Demarcated Protected Forest (DPF). Those were illegally stacked for smuggling. Two cases have been filed in this connection.
