Sandalwood smuggler dies after forest officer opens fire at him
NT Correspondent
Bengaluru: A sandalwood smuggler was fatally shot while his accomplice managed to escape after a forest beat officer opened fire in self-defence.
The incident occurred during the early hours of Wednesday in the Bannerghatta forest. In response to the recurring instances of sandalwood tree thefts within the forest, the Bengaluru police had heightened patrolling activities in the area to thwart potential smugglers.
According to police sources, at approximately 1 a.m. on Wednesday, Forest Guard Vinay Kumar and his team heard the sound of trees being cut.
Upon investigation, they discovered gutka packets, spit stains, and discarded water bottles at the base of sandalwood trees in the Kalkere forest near the JD Mara signal—a designated plastic-free zone.
The police cautiously encircled the two suspects and engaged them. The culprits, feeling cornered, reportedly brandished a machete and attempted to assault the forest guards.
In response, Officer Kumar had no choice but to fire two rounds from his pump-action gun. Tragically, one of the bullets struck an assailant in the abdomen, leading to his immediate demise.
The other individual, somehow, managed to evade capture and fled from the scene. Subsequently, the police identified the deceased as Thimmarayappa, a 28-yearold from Malur taluk in the Kolar district.
Later in the day, Bengaluru Rural Superintendent of Police Mallikarjun Baldandi arrived at the scene.
He shared, "The forest guard and two watchers were conducting night patrols due to rampant smuggling. Upon hearing the sounds of tree cutting, they approached the duo and instructed them to surrender. However, the smugglers resisted by attacking the patrol team with deadly weapons. The forest personnel fired a warning shot into the air. When the smugglers hurled a weapon at the team, the guard fired a second shot, resulting in the fatality. The other smuggler managed to flee."
Bengaluru Urban District Deputy Commissioner Dayanand also visited the site and gathered information from Forest Department staff.
"It's evident that the two non-locals had entered the forest with some ulterior motive, as they were armed and had sandalwood logs in their possession. At first glance, it appears that the forest staff acted in selfdefence. Typically, cases of encounters like this undergo an initial investigation, post-mortem examination, and subsequently a magisterial inquiry," he remarked.
Authorities have retrieved a machete and treecutting equipment from the location. A case has been registered, and further investigation is currently underway.