Midnight forest department crackdown in Rayagada: Timber-laden pickup van intercepted, three smugglers apprehended

Dr.Badal Tah,Odishabarta

Rayagada, October 19: In a swift and coordinated midnight strike against forest racketeers, forest officials from Rayagada and Tikiri forest ranges intercepted an illegal timber smuggling operation late Sunday night, detaining three individuals along with a vehicle loaded with freshly sawn sal timber.

Acting under direct instructions from the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Rayagada, a joint forest squad comprising the Rayagada Forest Range Officer and ground personnel from both Tikiri and Rayagada ranges launched an intensive night patrolling drive along sensitive forest conduits. Around 11:20 PM on October 18, 2026, the patrol intercepted a suspicious pickup van moving under the cover of darkness.

A thorough search of the vehicle uncovered 74 illicitly sized logs of high-value sal timber, which were being ferried without transit permits or valid documentation. Forest personnel immediately seized the consignment along with the transport vehicle and detained three occupants on the spot.

Preliminary interrogation of the detained individuals revealed that the timber had been freshly felled and logged from the Kharka Reserve Forest near Kharka village. The apprehended individuals have been identified as residents of Limadara village named Mithun Nayak (32), son of Rameswar Nayak, Dasa Majhi (34), son of Jimbiri Majhi, Ganapati Majhi (42), son of Lalmani Majhi.

Forest authorities have registered a case under relevant provisions of the Odisha Forest Act. Officials stated that a thorough investigation is underway to uncover the broader timber illicit trade network, trace the local conduits, and ascertain the destination racket behind this smuggling ring.