Stone mafia attack forester in Keonjhar

Keonjhar: Forester of Baniapank beat under Hadagarh range in Anandpur wildlife division Abhinas Parida sustained severe injuries after being attacked by suspected stone mafia on Tuesday.
The incident took place at 4 pm when he was going to Siadimalia village near Ramda, 100 km from here in Keonjhar district, after getting information about stone smuggling. He sustained injuries in head and leg and was admitted to Anandpur sub-divisional hospital.
According to forest department sources, a stone quarry had been operating in the area for last so many years. Forest department raided the quarry a number of times and seized vehicles with stolen stone. The quarry, coming under Hadagarh Elephant Reserve, was closed down by forest department recently.
Anandapur DFO Bijay Kumar Behera said, "The forester was attacked when he was going with a squad. The forester got information that the stone quarry had resumed operations."
Mafia are smuggling out huge quantities of stones from more than 25 pits inside the sanctuary, official sources said.