A sandalwood smuggler, who was absconding after convicted by court, attacked two forest personnel when they attempted to nab him near here on Tuesday.
According to Forest Department sources, Murugesan (48) of Somasipadi Pudur was booked by Tiruvannamalai forest range office for sandalwood related offence in 1997.
He was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment and was slapped a fine of Rs. 7,500 by sandalwood cases special court in Tirupathur in 2007.
He soon paid the fine through his advocate and filed an appeal in Madras High Court while absconding.
The Madras HC, after hearing appeal petition, upheld Tirupathur Special Court’s verdict on March 29, 2015.
However, Murugesan was still absconding. Forest personnel kept on searching for him ever since the High Court verdict.
“We received a tip off that he would come to a tea shop in Somasipadi in the mornings. Forester Balasubramanian and guard Subramanian went to the tea shop and attempted to nab him. On realising that he was being arrested, Murugesan took out a knife and attacked Mr. Balasubramanian. He sustained injuries in the head. Murugesan also bit Mr. Subramanian in his hand,” said the sources. The injured forest personnel have been admitted to the Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital.
