Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Four men have been arrested for allegedly illegally felling protected sandalwood trees and storing processed wood at a farm in Chakur taluka of Latur district.
The police also seized 540 kg of sandalwood, valued at Rs 11.7 lakh, along with tools allegedly used to cut and process the trees. During the search, police found 30 kg of sandalwood heartwood packed in four white sacks, valued at Rs 1.5 lakh at the rate of Rs 5,000 per kg. They also seized 510 kg of sandalwood pieces packed in 28 sacks, valued at Rs 10.2 lakh at Rs 2,000 per kg. Police seized 540 kg of protected sandalwood and processing tools as part of a crackdown on illegal felling and storage, Latur superintendent of police Amol Tambe said. A case has been registered at Chakur police station against the four accused under sections 303(2) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and sections 41 and 42 of the Indian Forest Act, 1927, based on a complaint lodged by police constable Anil Shrirame.
The accused allegedly conspired to illegally cut down sandalwood trees protected under government regulations, according to police. Chamale said that the preliminary probe indicates that the suspects are suspected of being linked to the gangs of sandalwood thieves. They are accused of removing the bark, extracting the heartwood, cutting it into smaller pieces, and storing it in sacks. “Strict action is being taken against those involved. Further investigation would establish the sandalwood’s source and whether the accused were linked to a wider illegal trade network,” he added. Chakur police’s sub-inspector G N Chamale is conducting further investigation.
The operation was carried out late on Wednesday at a farm near a farmhouse on the Chapoli-Naygaon road in Anandwadi village.