325 kg sandalwood blocks stolen

Belthangady: 325 kg sandalwood blocks worth Rs 8.60 lakh have been stolen from the godown of the Forest Department located near Santekatte here and the incident was found out on Saturday morning July 13^th.

The sandalwood blocks were those which were seized by the forest department in connection to various cases and kept in the godown under security and hence, the theft has given rise to some suspicions.

Along with the sandalwood locks, barbed wire from the department was also stored in the same godown. On Saturday, one of the staffs went to procure the barbed wire only then was the theft realized.

The last time the department staff opened the godown lock was on July 2^nd to retrieve barbed wire from within. Since then, no one has entered the godown. The robbers have broken open the lock, removed the valuable goods, then replaced the broken lock back to its original position and fixed it with gum to avoid any suspicion. It is suspected that the blocks must have been shifted to outside the compound from where they were taken in a vehicle, inform the police.

Robbery in the vicinity of the residence of the forester

Belthangady Forester’s house is right beside the godown. However, since a few days, he was not in the residence as he had gone back to his hometown on vacation. It is aid hat the robbers must have learnt of his absence and capitalized. There was almost 400 kg of sandalwood blocks stored in the godown of which 75 kg has remained back in the godown, informed the forest officer.

Based on the information from the department, Belthangady CI Sandesh PG relayed the information regarding the incident to the SP on whose direction, a case has been registered and the investigation is being conducted. Belthangady zone forest officer Subbayya Naik has given information regarding the incident to DFO. Bethangady police have registered a case.