Bhubaneswar, July 5: Athagarh Forest Ranger Rabindra Kumar Nayak and his team were attacked by the timber mafia while returning to their office after seizing a truck loaded with illegal timber.

Acting on a tip-off, the forest department intercepted the timber-laden truck. As the forest officials were heading back to their office, a group of miscreants ambushed them, assaulted the truck driver, and attempted to flee with the vehicle. Despite being outnumbered, Nayak and his team pursued the miscreants and successfully recaptured the truck.

The officials managed to seize the truck, which contained illegal timber worth lakhs of rupees, but sustained injuries during the confrontation. Ranger Rabindra Kumar Nayak and five other forest officials were injured in the attack.

The police have arrested Prakash Chandra Das, a resident of Athagarh, in connection with the incident. The forest department has also secured the truck and the illegal timber.

Ranger Nayak stated, "When we were returning to the workplace after seizing the timber-laden truck, six miscreants chased us and assaulted our driver. They were attempting to escape with the truck when we pursued and overpowered them. In the process, six forest officials, including myself, sustained severe injuries."

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