Sandalwood of Rs 70 lakh seized in Odisha, 3 arrested

Cuttack: The Special Task Force (STF) of Odisha Crime Branch arrested three sandalwood smugglers and seized a huge quantity of the aromatic wood worth Rs 70 lakh in Odisha’s Cuttack district.

Based on reliable information, the STF detected a case of illegal possession and deal of sandalwood by the smugglers inside Dalajodi Jungle under Tangi Police Station in Cuttack on the evening of December 3.

The cops seized sandalwood weighing 4.60 quintal and arrested three persons. 

The three accused are Hemanta Chatois and Kanhu Chanran Bhoi of Tangi area in Cuttack district and Dandapani Das of Khandapada area in Nayagarh district.

The police also seized other incriminating articles from their possession.

The accused persons could not produce any valid license or authority in support of the possession of such sandalwood. In this connection, a case has been registered at Tangi Police Station for necessary legal action, said the STF.