Granite, timber seized, one arrested

DHENKANAL: Two trucks were detained and huge quantity of granite materials and a compressor seized by forest officials near Balibo reserve forest in Bhuban on Monday. Bhuban forest ranger Chitaranjan Mohanty said the granite was being illegally carried to some unknown destination from the Balibo reserve forest even as the Revenue Department had cancelled lease of quarrying and sale of stones inside the forest. The truck driver managed to flee. In another incident, DFO S K Dalai said a truck carrying 26 planks of Sal wood were seized after officials intercepted the vehicle that was moving towards Gadapalasuni. Truck driver Surath Jena was arrested. Similarly, another truck with 11  Sal wood planks was seized three days back at the same place.