Gum smugglers burn forest to evade cops

NASHIK: Gum smugglers set fire to three hectares of Vodada forest in Maharashtra's Jalgaon district to evade arrest by forest officials.

"The smugglers also detonated a crude explosive near the tyre of a vehicle owned by forest department. Though no injuries were reported, the suspects managed to escape," a forest official said about the incursions between Feb 12 night and the following morning.

"We received information that some gum smugglers from MP were to collect gum from Salai and Dhawada trees in Vadoda forest," range forest officer Parimal Salunkhe said. One person was held later for allegedly sheltering the gang.