Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA) - pics - Dayanand Kukkaje

Mangalore, Apr 17: A group of robbers who attacked staff of Ranger Forest Officer's office have decamped with sandalwood worth Rs 5 lac in the early hours of Tuesday April 17.

It is said that more than 25 persons who came on vehicles broke into the Range Forest Officer's office near Goodshed here on Tuesday morning.  They tied the staff Prince, Mohan, Joy and Ganapati and stole cash and valuables from them.  The robbery took place around 2.30 am. 

They masked the staff before tying their hands and legs.  They even covered their mouths with plaster so that they could not shout for help.  After stealig watches, gold chains and cash from the staff they enquired about sandalwood which is usually stored in the godown.

Prince                             Joy

But the staff sensing that they were planning to rob sandalwood too said that there was no sandalwood in store.  But the robbers assaulted them and barged into the godown after breaking open the locks.  They decamped with huge sandalwood logs.  Though the exact value of the stolen sandalwood is not known, primary investigation has revealed that it may be more than Rs 5 lac.

Ganapati                        Mohan

Once they fled the place, the staff managed to escape and passed message to the police.  They said that there were almost 25 robbers in the group.  Though there are 10-12 houses near the office, all those houses were latched from outside.  Even a dog of the vicinity was beaten up.  The robbers were speaking Kannada with North Karnataka accent and had hidden their faces under the mask.

Forester Ganapati, guards Prince, driver Mohan and Joy had slept outside the office.  Though the forester had a gun with him, it was inside the office.

So far no clues are available about the robbers.  The sniffer dogs have already been summoned to the spot.