Daijiworld Media Network – Sullia

Sullia, Jan 16: Forest department officials detected illegal transportation of beete (teak) timber at the Sampaje check post while inspecting a vehicle arriving from the Madikeri side.

During the inspection, officials found that a vehicle bearing registration number KA 13 AA 0769 was illegally transporting timber. The beete wood was concealed beneath sacks of rice husk, with a tarpaulin covering the top portion of the vehicle. A total of 25 pieces of beete wood were found hidden underneath the sacks.

The forest department arrested the vehicle driver, B M Sajan of Napoklu, and produced him before the court, following which he was remanded to judicial custody.

Another key accused, identified as Abdul Abdutti of Siddapur village in Virajpet taluk, is absconding, sources said.

The operation was carried out on the night of January 15 based on specific information, under the guidance of the deputy conservator of forests and assistant conservator of forests of the Madikeri regional division and Madikeri sub-division. The raid was led by the range forest officer, with officials from the Sampaje forest investigation station participating in the operation.

Those involved in the operation included range forest officer Dinni Dechamma, deputy range forest officer Sandeep Gowda, forest guards Karthik D, Nagaraj S and Siddarama Nataker, and departmental vehicle driver Bhuvaneshwar, along with investigation station staff Rajesh.