Two individuals were arrested and a truck carrying illegal firewood was seized by a special patrolling team acting on a tip-off on December 10 at the Dumbarwadi Toll Plaza in Pune's Junnar taluka. The two persons arrested have been identified as Somnath Ganesh Shrirasagar of Takli Haji, Shirur, and the vehicle owner, Gopal Dinesh Karaliya of Otur.

As per a police note, the vehicle bearing registration number MH 16 AY 7254 was loaded with illegal firewood.

There has been a rise in illegal firewood transportation in the recent past along the Maharashtra border, which was recently declared an Eco-Sensitive Area of the Western Ghats. Despite a ban on the felling of trees, several vehicles intrude into Goa with illegal firewood. Read Also 'Our Homes, Our Right': Massive Protest Erupts In P

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