KalingaTV News Network
Keonjhar: In a major breakthrough, Rugudi Police on Thursday arrested five persons in connection to illegal smuggling of manganese ore from Sidhhamath reserve forest in the district of Odisha to outside of the state.
The arrested persons have bben identified as Mohammed Firoz (31), Mohammed Irfan (28), Mohammed Salim Akhtar (29), Babula Lohar (30), and Gajanan Shinde (34).
While Sindhe belongs to Nashik district of Maharashtra, the rest are from Barbil region of the district.
The police seized several vehicles including a 12-wheeler truck and a dumper loaded with manganese ore as well as a car used by the accused in the illegal act.
The police also seized as many as eight mobile phones and Rs 10, 200 in cash from the possession of the arrested persons.
A case has been registered at Rugudi Police station in this regard.