Date:23/12/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/12/23/stories/2008122354430400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Smugglers target sandalwood tree in Jawadu hills

Staff Reporter

Tiruvannamalai: A group of sandalwood smugglers late on Sunday chopped branches of a sandalwood tree in Kovilur village in the Jawadu hills and escaped after hurling country bombs and opening firing at forest guards.

One Forest personnel was injured in the firing.

Collector M. Rajendran told reporters here that the smugglers locked the doors of every house in the village from outside. They had brought locks with them. They also locked the room where the guards were sleeping.

When some of the villagers woke up and tried to come out, the smugglers lobbed around eight country bombs in the open space to scare them and escaped in a van with branches. The smugglers managed to sneak into Andra Pradesh, the Collector said.