Bhubaneswar, Dec. 28 -- The timber mafia allegedly snatched a seized timber-laden vehicle from Forest Department personnel and damaged an official vehicle in Odisha's Balasore district on Saturday night, highlighting growing concerns over organised timber smuggling and attacks on frontline forest staff.

The incident took place in the Similiguda area under Peethahata panchayat, where the Nilgiri Forest Division had moved to seize a vehicle loaded with timber. According to forest officials, a written complaint was scheduled to be lodged at Berhampur police station at the time of reporting on Sunday.

Manuwar Khan, Forest Ranger, Balasore, said the Forest Department acted on specific information received about a timber-laden vehicle.

"We r...