Baripada (Odisha), March 11 Officers from the Odisha forest department arrested a man on Wednesday for allegedly setting fire inside the Similipal Wildlife Sanctuary in the Mayurbhanj district, officials said.
While patrolling the Nedam forest on Tuesday evening, staff from the Pithabata North wildlife range spotted three individuals allegedly setting fire to the forest area, an official said.
Upon seeing the forest personnel, the individuals attempted to flee, but the forester and protection assistants chased them and apprehended one of them, he said.
The accused, Duryodhan Hansdah (56), is from the Bangriposi police station area in the Mayurbhanj district.
He has been arrested under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and has been taken to a local court, the forest officer said.