2 sandalwood smugglers thrashed and tied to police in Davanagere village

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 thieves were trying to cart away a huge sandalwood log.

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 tree was in the house of one of the villagers.

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.

The duo was handed over to the police on Tuesday morning.