Balipatna: Forest department officials along with vigilance officials Thursday jointly raided an illegal saw mill at Balipatna range under the Khurda forest division in the district.
The officials seized several equipment and logs worth lakhs of rupees from the mill including several 60.46 Cft teak timber, nine pole 24 power driven motor, cutters, sanders, drill machines from the unit which were being used in cutting the woodduring the raid, sources said.
No arrest was made as nobody claims the ownership on the spot.
The police have also arrested three persons in this connection. Locals said that the saw mill had been operating in the locality illegally for the last couple of years.
Forest officials had received information regarding smuggling of precious timbers from the saw mill. Acting on the tip-off, forest department officials along with vigilance officials raided the mill and seized the timbers. During the raid, police also confiscated two motorcycles, machines that were being used to cut wood and a tractor.
The officials said that all the seized materials were handed over to DFO, Khurdha which has been received by RO Balipatna.
The Forest officials have started searching the real owner of the saw mill.
Notably, the approximate cost of seizure is estimated to be Rs 2, 50,000.
PNN
