Steephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)

Kasargod, Oct 6: In a raid conducted by a team led by district collector (DC) Dr D Sajith Babu, on a house located near the residence of the district collector in the outskirts of the town here in the early hours of Tuesday October 6, about a quintal of sandalwood pieces worth about Rs 2.5 crore was seized.

This illegal activity came to light from a house that is close to the residences of both the district collector and the district superintendent of police. This is said to be the biggest haul of sandalwood stock to have been unearthed in the history of the district.

At around 4.30 am on Tuesday October 6, the district collector's car driver, Shreejit, and gunman, woke to some sound near the residence of the district collector. When they came out they saw that sandalwood pieces were being loaded on to a parked truck. This was informed to the district collector. The district collector who reached the spot, with the support of the police, succeeded in bringing into the open the clandestine and illegal operation. The sandalwood pieces packed in about 30 plastic bags had been loaded onto the truck.

The truck was meant for transporting cement. A special cabin was created inside the luggage bay of the truck for concealing sandalwood pieces.

During the raid, the house owner and accused escaped. A truck bearing Karnataka registration number and three cars were confiscated from the spot. A case stands registered in the police station against Abdul Khader from Nayanmarmoole, who owns the house. The police said that the sandalwood pieces would be handed over to the forest department. Further investigation is in progress.