Dhenkanal: The Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) faced the wrath of mining mafia at a forest in the district on Saturday night.
DFO Prakash Chandra Gugnani was injured after a group of mining mafia goons attacked him at Kurumatangar forest in the district.
According to reports, the DFO had visited the forest area alone at around 9 pm on Saturday to monitor the elephant movement in the area. He came across a truck transporting stone in the forest.
The officer intercepted the truck and asked the driver to show required documents, which he failed to produce.
The DFO also immediately informed the forest officials.
Meanwhile, a group of goons involved in the stone smuggling reached the spot and attacked the top forest officer. They argued with him and heckled him. One of the goons attacked him with a brick following which he sustained injuries on head.
Later, the goons fled the spot after forest officials reached there.
The forest officials seized the truck engaged in the smuggling.
The DFO lodged a complaint with police following which police registered a case and detained six persons in this connection.
They are being questioned. Further investigation is underway, police said.
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