Sandalwood tree stolen from house premises

T'puram: An over 30-year-old sandalwood tree was stolen from the front yard of a house at Chadayamangalam in Kollam around 3.30am on Monday. The tree, which stood in front of Parambil Madhavakuruppu's residence in Thevannoor, was found missing after suspected thieves chopped it down and carted it away. Chadayamangalam police registered a case, and launched an investigation."We woke up to the sound of wood being chopped. By the time we came out of the house, the culprits escaped through the backside, carrying the logs. They had brought tools with them and appeared to be well-prepared," he told mediapersons.The stolen sandalwood tree was reportedly planted more than three decades ago and had grown to a substantial size, making it a high-value target. Sandalwood is a protected species in India, and its illegal cutting and sale are punishable under stringent forest and wildlife protection laws. Family members suspect that the thieves were familiar with the house layout, as they managed to cut the tree swiftly and escape through the rear compound without raising much alarm. "They knew exactly how to get in and out," added Madhavakuruppu.Police registered the case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and forest protection laws, and also alerted forest officials. A police team visited the crime scene on Monday morning and began collecting evidence, including fingerprints and possible tool marks from the stump. "We began an investigation into the theft and are examining CCTV footage from nearby houses and roads. We suspect a gang specialising in sandalwood smuggling to be behind the incident," said a police officer.Police are trying to determine whether the stolen wood was transported in a vehicle. Meanwhile, the stolen tree's value is yet to be officially assessed. Experts estimate that fully grown sandalwood trees could fetch several lakhs of rupees on the black market, depending on their age and quality.