DAVANAGERE: Two sandalwood smugglers who were trying to cart off a huge branch of a sandalwood tree at the house of an individual in Devarabelekere village in Harihar taluk, were caught by villagers, thrashed and tied to a pole. The duo was later handed over to the police.
The duo had poisoned a few dogs and bolted a few houses from outside before chopping the tree on Monday night. The sandalwood tree had grown in the house of one Manjunath. The duo was caught by villagers when they were trying to transport the sandalwood log.
The Davanagere Rural police visited the village on Tuesday morning and took the two into custody. A case has been registered and further investigation is under way.
