Officials red-faced as trees axed under their very nose

Mysuru: The Forest Department, tasked to protect forest resources, is in an embarrassing situation, as thieves axed and made away with three sandalwood trees at Aranya Bhavan in Ashokapuram here right under the noses of Forest staff.

The thieves, who entered the tightly guarded Aranya Bhavan, have chopped off three fully grown sandalwood trees and have made away with the trunks.

According to the complaint lodged by Deputy Range Forest Officer (DRFO) Sanjiv K. Patil at Ashokapuram Police Station, the theft took place at about 4 am on Monday (Nov.2) and the thieves have chopped the three trees grown close to the Forest Guest House.

The thieves to avoid being noticed by the guards, may have reportedly entered the premises through the area around the residences of Forest officials at midnight as the main entrance and other gates of Aranya Bhavan is tightly guarded.

Ashokapuram Police, who have registered a case, are investigating.

Meanwhile, Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) Dr. K.C. Prashanth Kumar, speaking to Star of Mysore, said: “We have taken the incident seriously. A team of Forest officials has been formed and footages of CCTV Cameras installed in and around Aranya Bhavan has been collected to ascertain how the thieves entered the premises. We have also lodged a Police complaint in this regard.”