Kendrapara: The Kanika forest range officials arrested one person for his involvement in smuggling mangrove species, said a source Monday.
The forest personnel seized as many as 27,728 packets of Batera lata (Salacia Prinoides) root and Garani (Ceriops Decandra) roots along with vehicle, used for transporting. The weight of the root would be approximately six quintals, Ranger of Kanika forest Range Manas kumar Das said.
The arrested person identified as Shankarsan Mandal of Krushnanagar village under Talachua Marine police station has confessed before the forest personnel that he used to smuggle the mangrove species root from the Bhitarkanika National Park area, Das added.
He used to collect these mangrove species roots from one Akabar Malla, of Vekta in Rangani GP under Talachua Marine police limit. Forest officials said Batera lata (salacia prinoides ) root has medicinal values and it is used to make medicine for diabetes, asthma, joint pain, weight loss, and other ailments but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses, Das said.
Garani (ceriops decandra) roots are smuggled for selling it as sandalwood, after spraying sandal scents, Das said. Mandal was booked under the offences of smuggling forestry products and destroying the biodiversity of Bhitarkanika National Park.
He was produced before the local court here today which remanded him into judicial custody. Meanwhile, Akbar Molla, the prime accused in this case is absconding to avoid arrest. The forest personnel are conducting raids at several hideouts to nab him.
UNI