Man Arrested in Karnataka’s Shikaripur for Smuggling 107 kg of Sandalwood

Swift Summary:

• Forest Department officials arrested a man, identified as kantaraju (38), on charges of smuggling sandalwood in Shikaripur.
• A total of 107 kg of sandalwood was seized from the accused.
• Kantaraju is a resident of Gajanur in Shivamogga. He and six others were allegedly cutting sandalwood from the Forest Department’s plantation in shikaripur range.
• While six other suspects escaped, the officials registered a forest offence case against them.
• the arrest was executed by Range Forest Officer Revanasiddaiah B. Hiremath and his staff under the guidance of Deputy Conservator of Forest for Sagar Mohan Kumar and Assistant Conservator of Forest Ravindra Naik.
• The accused has been presented before the judicial magistrate.

!Forest Department officials with the person arrested on charges of smuggling sandalwood in Shikaripur. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The arrest highlights ongoing challenges faced by authorities in protecting valuable natural resources like sandalwood, which hold notable economic and cultural value in india. Smuggling activities such as this not only lead to financial losses but also impact environmental sustainability by depleting natural reserves over time.Effective enforcement, coupled with proactive measures like community engagement and stricter legal deterrents, could help address this systemic issue. Comprehensive investigations into such cases are essential to apprehend all offenders involved and ensure preventive mechanisms are strengthened within forest management practices.

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