Sandalwood thieves nabbed

The crime branch of Pune police had launched a special operation after sandalwood theft incidents increased in the city. On early Monday morning,members of crime branch,along with the night patrolling teams of Deccan Gymkhana,Chatushrungi and Shivajinagar police stations,nabbed the nine at the hills behind Symbiosis College and Wadarwadi. The Deccan police station team led by sub inspector Anjali Khare nabbed six of them,while the remaining two where nabbed by other teams. The police have recovered four sandalwood logs from them.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (crime) Anil Kumbhare said this was one of the biggest inter state gang of sandalwood thieves and more persons linked will be arrested soon.

All arrested were produced before the Shivajinagar court. “The four minors were send to the remand home while the rest were remanded to police custody till January 27,said Assistant Commissioner of Police Sangramsinh Nishandar.

Investigation is on to identify those who purchased the stolen sandalwood from the suspects,said the police.