The Belpahar Forest Division in Jharsuguda district has seized 2 quintals and 87 kilograms of kendu leaves and confiscated an auto-rickshaw during a late-night operation near the Belpahar Durga Temple. Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the seizure, officials reported on Thursday.
The suspects have been identified as Saidul Bibi (39), a resident of West Bengal, and auto driver Javed Khan (34), a local from Jharsuguda. Both have been presented before a local court.
Belpahar Range Officer Pradeep Nayak stated that the estimated value of the seized kendu leaves is around ₹1.5 lakh. According to sources from the forest department, a reliable informant provided a tip-off regarding the illegal transportation of kendu leaves in an auto-rickshaw from Jharsuguda to Belpahar.
Following the instructions of Range Officer Nayak, a forest team tracked the vehicle and successfully intercepted it near the Durga Temple. During questioning, the accused reportedly claimed that they had obtained the kendu leaves from Rajpur and had arrived by train from Kharagpur.
