Dr B Thomas (Special correspondent)
The mobile squad of the forest department in a covert operation busted an inter state red sander smuggling racket and seized 559.4 kg of precious wood worth Rs.28 lakh.
Senior officer said,Based on a tip off a team led by Deputy Conservator of Forest GS Gangadhar, intercepted a goods vehicle near Kattigenahalli on Hosakote road at around 1.30 am and the sniffer squad alerted about the red sanders presence.
The officials while checking two men driving the vehicle escaped.
Upon checking the vehicle the officials found the red sanders covered in carton boxes and concealed under vegetable load.
The officials have seized the truck and taken up a case while efforts are on to track down the accused who abandoned the vehicle and escaped.
