The sandalwood tree that was found broken recently on Race Course Road in the city was damaged in gale and rain, police confirmed on Friday, dismissing rumours that it was cut by miscreants.
According to police, the tree was damaged nearly 10 days ago. “Since it was in Corporation limits, we asked the forest officials to clear the broken branches ,” a senior police officer said.
Personnel from the District Forest Office (DFO) removed the branches and the cleared the road on Friday.
Recent incidents of sandalwood smuggling in the city could have fuelled the rumours, the officer said. Attempts to fell trees were reported in Kattoor, Ramnagar and Saibaba Colony this week.
Four arrested
Meanwhile, four men were arrested and remanded on Thursday for felling a sandalwood tree from a businessman’s residence in Anaimalai. According to the police, Senthil (32), Ramesh (24), Senthilkumar (35) and Anthony Joseph (24) broke into the premises of Ganesh Rathinam (41) in the early hours of July 14 and cut down a sandalwood tree in the garden. The accused transported the sandalwood worth ₹ 40,000 in a four-wheeler, police said. Anaimalai police registered a case under Sections 457 (Lurking house-trespass or house-breaking by night in order to commit offence punishable with imprisonment) and 380 (Theft in dwelling house, etc.) of the Indian Penal Code. The accused were remanded in judicial custody in Coimbatore Central Prison on Thursday. The sandalwood and the vehicle were seized.
