A timber mafia and his two accomplices were arrested in Sambalpur, additional SP (Sambalpur) Dilip Kumar Deo said on Tuesday afternoon. They are Raiman Munda and Raju Pradhan of Dangarpada village and Fakir Gardia of Chilikon village within Jujomora police limits.
Deo said a police team trapped him and his men on Monday night when they were smuggling logs in Sadar police station area. A country-made pistol, a live cartridge, 21 logs, a two-wheeler and 11 bicycles were seized from them.
He revealed Raiman, the most wanted timber mafia, was also involved in the attack on Jujomora range office that took place May 8, 2011 in which the range officer and two other forest guards were seriously injured severely. “Raiman wanted revenge because the forest officials had seized timber from his men. He took away the seized articles from the range office by attacking the officials. We had registered a case but he was absconding,” the additional SP said.
Deo said Raiman used to employ jobless youth for smuggling of timber. The police team spotted him on Monday night while he was escorting his men near Sindurpank area.
