Daijiworld Media Network - Hassan (SP)

Hassan, Nov 24: A sandalwood thief's life was claimed by a bullet fired by forest department officials. The incident happened at Tirumala Devaragudda protected forest in the taluk on the night of Tuesday, November 22. About seven companions of the thief succeeded in running away.    

A gang of eight thieves had entered the forest on Tuesday midnight and begun to cut down sandalwood trees by using saws and axes. The forest officials on patrol duty were alerted by the sound made by the thieves. When the forest employees went there, the thieves reportedly moved at them menacingly to attack them with saws and axes. They also pelted stones at the forest department personnel.                     

In response, the forest staff fired at the thieves.  One of the bullets pierced through the head of one of the thieves, and he died on the spot.  The forest staff went to the spot on Wednesday morning and conducted verification. They found that one of the thieves had died, and cell phone, saw, axe and torch were found scattered there. Police officers have taken into possession these things.

For advanced investigation, ballistic experts have been summoned from Bengaluru. A case has been registered in the rural police station here, and an investigation has begun.