Kerala - Kottayam   

Four sandalwood smugglers held

Staff Reporter

KOTTAYAM: Forest Department personnel arrested four persons involved in cutting down sandalwood trees at the Marayoor Sandalwood Reserves on early Thursday. Authorities said the arrested are Viji, Subrahmonian, Hari and Karuppayya. At least two others had fled the spot during the combing operations, the authorities said.

The six-member gang had put up a stiff and violent fight before being subdued by the Forest personnel. Six persons, including Range Officer Dhanesh Kumar and guards Vijayakumar and Ramakrishnan, were injured in the attack. Three of the gang members Viji, Hari and Karuppayya were also injured when the guards retaliated. The authorities said the gang had cross border connections and had been booked many times earlier in connection with the smuggling of sandalwood.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Four sandalwood smugglers held
`Palathulli' award announced
Award for eco-friendly institutions announced

Copyright © 2007, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu