Forest officials seize valuable wood; 2 booked for felling trees in reserve forest area

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangady, April 22, 2025: Forest officials of Belthangady Range raided a reserve forest area in Melanthabettu village and seized valuable wooden logs which were felled by smugglers using a Hitachi vehicle by illegally entering forest area. Two persons have been booked in this connection.

Wooden logs worth Rs 3 lakhs, a Hitachi machine worth Rs 30 lakhs, tree cutting machine worth Rs 60,000, an iron chain worth Rs 15,000 were seized. In all goods worth Rs 33,75,000 were seized.

The main accused has been identified as Prakash Poojary of Naravi while the Hitachi was driven by its owner and operator Karunaker Bhandari of Nooralbettu in Karkala.

The accused have been served notice to appear for investigation. Further investigations are underway.