India, Feb. 12 -- The Pune forest department has arrested two persons in three separate cases involving illegal coal transport, forest fires and wildlife trafficking. The duo has been remanded to judicial custody. Further investigation is underway and a search operation has been launched for two more accused engaged in illegal coal transport.

In the first case, forest officials spotted two suspicious-looking tempos while patrolling near Newale Vasti, Ravet, Pimpri-Chinchwad, at around 10 pm on January 8. The officials followed the vehicles and confiscated them. Two-hundred-and-fifty bags of charcoal were seized from the vehicles but their drivers managed to escape. The coal was being transported illegally sans any permission. Following t...