Madikeri: The District Crime Investigation Branch (DCIB) has busted a timber smuggling racket in the district’s Bettageri village and seized Rs 15 Lakh worth of timber and other assets, arresting 5 men involved in the case.
The DCIB on a tip-off, carried out an operation in a plantation at Bettageri during which it seized 22 timber woods which were about to be transported. The arrested men hail from Kakkabe village and Puttur. The police have seized a lorry (KA-46-6956), a Swift car (KA-12 Z-3113), a Zen car (KA-20, N 1117), along with 22 timber woods and Rs 15,000 cash. The total worth of the seized items is around Rs 15 Lakh.
The arrested are identified as Ashraf (31) and Riyaz (31) of Kakkabe, Abdul Rahim (30) of Palur and lorry driver Arees (26) and cleaner Riyaz (25) of Puttur. A case has been registered against the accused in Madikeri Rural Police Station under the Karnataka Forest Act and further investigation is on.
DCIB Circle Inspector Mahesh, Assistant Sub Inspector Hameed, constables Yogesh Kumar, Vasanth, Venkatesh, driver Shashikumar, rural police station sub inspector Chethan, Probationary PSI Sheshadri, Theertha Kumar and Kallappa Hitnall carried out the operation.
