Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (SS)
Udupi, Feb 1: The forest department officials have seized 43 kilos of sandalwood and taken one person into custody for trying to smuggle the expensive wood.
The accused has been identified as Ashok, a resident of Moodubelle.
On getting definite information that sandalwood was being cut from a tree, forest department conservators H Devaraja Pana, Abhilash S B and Vivek along with forest officer Keshava Poojary M who were on night patrol duty raided the location on January 25 at 3 am in Moodanidambooru village behind the Ambalapadi Shamali Sabha Bhavana when the accused was trying to smuggle sandalwood.
The operation was conducted under the guidance of deputy forest conservator of Kundapura division Udaya M Nayak and assistant forest conservator Clifford Lobo. Divisional forest officer Subramanya Achar registered a case against the accused and produced before a court. The accused was remanded to judicial custody.
Forest officers Suresh Ganiga, Jeevanadas Shetty of Padubidri, forest patrol officers Manjunath B Nayak of Kaup and driver Joyi also took part in the operation.