Itanagar, Aug. 23 (PTI): Atul Sarma, former professor of economics and head, Indian Statistical Institute, New Delhi, has taken over as vice-chancellor of Arunachal University this week.

Sarma has also served as economic advisor to the eighth and 10th finance commissions and the Union ministry of finance and as member of Technology Development Board of both Assam and Manipur, said a university release here today.

Timber smugglers held: Ten persons involved in illegal timber smuggling have been arrested from different places of Itanagar wildlife sanctuary yesterday, the forest department said here today.

A group of six timber smugglers was arrested while transporting timber in and around the capital complex.

In another incident, another group of four persons was caught red-handed while sawing timber illegally at Donyi Polo Vidya Bhavan near here.

They were booked under various sections of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, the release said, adding that the accused were produced before a local court which remanded them to four days in judicial custody.