Keonjhar: The district Excise enforcement squad and mobile unit nabbed five persons along with seizure of five vehicles loaded with huge quantities of Mahua flower worth over `1 crore during a raid at Banpar village under Town police limits in Keonjhar district, Monday.
The Excise personnel arrested three drivers and two helpers of the seized vehicles and detained the vehicle owners for investigation.
The accused persons were identified as Ramjee Kuanwar of Bihar, Gura Munda of Dhrupada village, Giridhari Naik of Janardanpur, Raja Munda of Judiasahi under Town police limits and Sabyasachi Munda of Katha Karanjia under Sadar police limits. Two of them on board the vehicles fled the scene during the raid, police officials said.
As per the direction of Keonjhar Excise Superintendent Pradipta Kumar Das, a raid was conducted with participation of all staff.
District mobile unit official Chandan Kumar Mandal said, “The vehicles were transporting Mahua flowers from Raipur area to East Singhbhum in neighbouring Jharkhand. However, they were caught red-handed while shifting the stock at Banpar village.” More than 280 quintal Mahua flowers along with a 16-wheeler truck and four Bolero pick-up vans were seized during the raid, he added.
A total of five persons including three drivers were arrested and two vans seized, while two others escaped during the raid. The owners of the vehicles have been detained for further investigation to identify their involvement in this illegal trade. The raid was conducted in view of the upcoming general elections in the state.
PNN
