Sambalpur: Police have launched an investigation after a resident of Sambalpur district alleged that officials of Kuchinda forest division illegally detained, stripped and assaulted him inside a forest range office.In a complaint lodged at Mahulpali police station, Piyush Dungdung alleged that Kuchinda range officer Lekharani Mahanand and other forest personnel forcibly picked him up from his house, confined him to an office room and beat him with sticks. He claimed to have suffered multiple injuries, with marks visible on different parts of his body.Kuchinda SDPO Pradeep Dash said the allegations surfaced in connection with an earlier case involving the alleged theft of timber during the Rath Yatra period. According to preliminary inquiries, a forest watcher, Ratnakar Patra, allegedly removed valuable timber from Badmundaloi forest and kept it at Dungdung’s residence, claiming he had official permission to store it there temporarily.Police said the timber was later allegedly sold by another person, also identified as Ratnakar. The matter came to light after villagers became aware of the alleged transaction. Following the revelations, the forest department reportedly suspended the forest watcher.Dungdung alleged that he became a target after speaking to the media about the incident. He claimed forest officials subsequently took him from his residence and subjected him to physical torture inside the range office.Based on his complaint, Mahulpali police have registered a case and begun an investigation. Officials said the allegations are being verified and further action will be taken on the basis of the probe findings.Police said the claims made by the complainant are yet to be corroborated. The version of the accused forest officials has not been made public. Attempts to contact range officer Lekharani Mahanand for comment did not elicit a response.
