Madikeri: The Kodagu District Crime Investigation Branch (DCIB) has arrested four persons on charges of illegal transportation of timber worth lakhs of rupees. The department has also seized a huge stock of valuable timber.
Superintendent of Police Dr. Suman D Pennekar disclosed to the media that this was the biggest timber smuggling case the department had cracked in the recent times in Kutta.
The arrested are lorry driver Rajendra (54) from Nalkeri village, cleaner Aiyappa (26) and Noban (58) of K Badaga village, and Dawood (45) of Chensangolli village.
Trees were illegally cut down in Nalkeri village, loaded in a lorry, covered with wood barn and were being transported towards Gonikoppa. The DCIB on a tip-off, conducted a raid and successfully seized the lorry and the timber. The DCIB arrested Rajendra and Aiyappa who were in the lorry, and nabbed Noban and Dawood who were following the lorry.
On searching Noban’s residence, a large stock of valuable timber including rosewood and teakwood were found. One lorry, Swaraj Mazda, a jeep, a car and a crane have been seized along with the timber.
DCIB Inspector K Nagesh, ASI Hameed, constables K S Anil, V G Venkatesh, Yogesh Kumar, M N Niranjan, K R Vasanth and driver Sashikumar carried out the operation.
