Bengaluru (Karnataka): The forest department staff opened fire to stop the thieves while they were cutting down a sandalwood tree, police said on Wednesday. A senior police official said that while one thief died in the incident, another escaped.
The incident occurred on Tuesday late at night around 1.15 a.m. at the Kalkere forest zone of the Bannerghatta National Park, the officer said. Bannerghatta forest department personnel were patrolling at night when they heard the sound of a sandalwood tree being cut down and went to the spot. The two accused tried to attack the forest personnel with machetes. The staff warned and fired once in the air, but even then after that, they opened fire as the duo did not listen to them. As a result, one person was injured and collapsed and died on the spot, the police said.
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SP Reaction: Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police (SP) Mallikarjuna Baladandi said, “There are plenty of sandalwood trees along with wildlife in the Bannerghatta protected forest. Two people went into the forest with the equipment and were cutting sandalwood late Tuesday night. When the forest department personnel, who were on forest patrol heard the sound of cutting trees, they rushed to the spot and found the two accused. Despite warning the accused to surrender, they attacked the forest personnel with weapons. Forest officials fired in the air after giving a warning, but when they did not listen, the personnel fired at the accused. While one died on the spot, the other escaped," the SP said.
