Sandalwood trees stolen in Keonjhar

KEONJHAR: Three sandalwood trees were stolen from the house of Baidyaraj Sahi here on Sunday. The smuggler left behind one tree though they had sawed it. According to forest department sources, sandalwood is priced at Rs 7,000 a kg and a tree usually weighs 20 to 25 kg.
In the past one month, seven sandalwood trees were stolen from Keonjhar. One was stolen from the premises of Keonjhar Cooperative Bank, three from Baldevjew temple and few from Sidhmatha medicinal plantations.
Police said the smugglers use motor-operated sawing machine. They usually cut down the trees at night and make away with it under the cover of darkness. "We are taking steps to nab the smugglers. Earlier, three persons were arrested," said IIC of Town police station S Mishra.