Mysuru: Sandalwood smugglers made a futile attempt to cut a scented tree at Mysore Race Club (MRC) premises in the wee hours of today.  

The thieves took to heels when alert security guards Ningachar and Prakash woke up to the sound of  motorised chain saw tree cutting machine and rushed to the spot.

Of the two trunks of the five -year-old tree, thieves had cut one of its trunks completely and fled the scene after attempting to cut off another trunk.         

Race Club Security Officer Shivamadu visited the spot and filed the complaint with the Forest Department officials after bringing this to the notice of the club management. A case has also been registered at Nazarbad Police Station.