Forest officials in Kolar district thwarted an attempted sandalwood theft in the Kashipura forest area of Mulabagilu taluk by resorting to gunfire early Tuesday morning. The incident occurred around 1 to 2 am when forest guard K Anil encountered a gang of five to six smugglers using a sickle to cut a small sandalwood tree.
According to Mulabagilu range forest officer Jyothi Shivakote Chikkarudraiah, forest patrols were intensified following tips about the illegal activity. When Anil approached the smugglers and demanded surrender, they attempted to attack him with the sickle. In response, Anil fired his single-barrel gun, injuring one of the accused identified as Bhatyappa from Tayalur village in Mulbagilu taluk. The injured smuggler was rushed to Kolar district hospital for surgery to remove pellets from his leg and is reported to be stable.
Chikkarudraiah stated that the escaped accused, identified as Seenappa, Ravi, Suresh, and Mahendra from Andhra Pradesh, are currently evading capture. Efforts are underway by local authorities to apprehend them.
The incident has led to the registration of a case under the Karnataka Forest Protection Act at the Mulbagilu rural police station, underscoring the severity with which forest officials are tackling sandalwood theft in the region.