Man held, 15 kg of sandalwood recovered

Forest Department personnel have caught a man and recovered 15 kg of sandalwood, worth Rs. 30,000, at a plantation in Gollahalli in Tumkur taluk.

Range Forest Officer Narasimhamurthy told The Hindu that he got an anonymous call on Saturday night saying that two persons were cutting sandalwood trees in the plantation.

The department personnel managed to catch one of the thieves, around 12.15 a.m. on Sunday.

He was identified as Narasimhaiah (55) of Mavinakunte village in the district. He has been handed over to the police.

His accomplice, who managed to escape, was identified as Narasimhaiah (40) of Mallasandra Colony.