Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 10: Police personnel of Panambur station here, in association with the staff of Anti- Rowdy Squad, conducted an operation in which five persons were arrested and various things including illegally stored red sandalwood were seized. Case against the accused has been filed in Panambur station under sections 50, 62, and 80 of Karnataka Forest Act 1963 apart from sections 144 and 165 of Karnataka Forest Rules 1969.

The police got reliable information at 12 pm on January 8 that unidentified persons, who had rented a vacant godown titled 'Venus Enterprises' on the road leading to Jokatte from Mungaru Junction in Baikampady Industrial Area, have stored red sandalwood worth crores of rupees illegally. They were also told that the sandalwood is planned to be sent to a foreign country through New Mangalore Port. The police, who acted on the information and made the arrests, are investigating.

The arrested persons happen to be Sheikh Tabrez (36), resident of Tanaz Manzil, near Azad Maidan, Kallapu, Permanur, Rakesh Shetty (44), residing at Parashuram Nagar, Kavoor post, Lohith (35), residing near Pilar school, Thokkottu, Farooq (48), residing near Thakwa Jumma Masjid, Kallapatna, Permannur here, and Hussain Kunhimonu (46), residing near Thakwa Jumma Masjid, Kallapatna, Permannnur.

As much as 4,000 kg red sandalwood worth about two crore rupees, a Maruti Brezza car worth about ten lac rupees, a Renault Pulse car valued at six lac rupees, a Tata ACE goods tempo worth about three lac rupees, two plywood boxes, and seven mobile phones totally worth Rs 2,19,30,000 were seized from the possession of the accused.