MORE INCIDENTS OF FORST LOOT SURFACE

Close on the heels of teak wood looting from forests around Kushalnagar comming to light, recently, another similar incident has been reported from Shanivarsanthe area.

A small team of journalists along with few villagers who ventured into 2,977 hectare, reserve forest at Yedavanadu near Shanivarsanthe witnessed the stems of dozens of trees being cut, especially on the main road side. Some of the trees axed by smugglers were aged more than thirty years.

The locals state that the smuggling took place during the elections when police were occupied in other matters and also on the nights when it rains heavily. They allege that the smugglers cannot operate without the knowledge of forest staff. While the guards assist them inside the forests, the guards at the gates allow the smugglers to push the loot across the border.

The recent findings revealed that trees worth several lakhs were cut in the back water areas of Harangi reservoir. The team counted 23 stems of cut trees. Only a thorough investigation will reveal the exact number of trees being cut deep inside the reserve forest where only forest staff and smugglers enter. The residents living around the reserve forest remain tightlipped about the incidents as they have a constant threat from the smugglers.

Meanwhile Kushalnagar police have arrested one person in connection with the recent smuggling in that area. The cut trees were hidden inside an estate, which were now recovered by forest officials.

LIFER FOR MURDER ACCUSED

The fast track court here yesterday slapped life imprisonment to an accused who had murdered his brother during 2001. The accused Ponnappa shot dead his brother Devaiah at Kirgandur village over a dispute. The court has also slapped a fine of rupees 9,500 on different charges and 3.6 years of rigorous imprisonment which will run concurrently.

PEOPLE BECOME MERRIER; EXCISE EARNS FOUR TIMES MORE PROFIT!

Despite the fact that the coffee prices have soared down, the people of Kodagu seems to have become merrier. If the statistics given by the Excise department here is true, the government has earned more profit from the sale of Liquor in Kodagu.

The District commissioner of Excise, Mr.Illyas Ahmad told this correspondent yesterday that the sale of liquor has increased by four times, compared to the figures of 2003. He disclosed that the government has earned Rs.26.13 crore during 2004. According to him 3.80 lakh liters of liquor was sold during 2003, whereas it is increased to 12.63 liters during 2004! The sale of arrack has also produced an additional profit of rupees in the present year.

He also said that the state which had earned rs.2, 119 crores from the sale of liquor during 2003 has earned rs.2615 crores in the present year.

DID BRAHMA SAVE THIS OLD MAN?

Sun was heading home and so were Puttegowda and his friend Palaksha at Kattepura near Shanivarsanthe.

The duo was walking near the temple of Brhama, on the evening of 23rd. They were shell shocked as a trumpeting tusker galloped towards them . Palaksha who was young ran off helter skelter. But how could the seventy year old Puttegowda run? Before he could realise what was happening, the tusker lifted him up and threw him to a distance. Puttegowda fell over a fence and tumbled down. The unappeased pachyderm rushed again towards him and lifted its foot to crush him to death. The already bruised and battered Puttegowda shouted for help and cried out ‘Oh, Lord has taken my life’, ‘Aiyyo Swamy Nanna Tekonda,.

Lo and behold, the tusker which was about to crush its prey to death, changed its mind and changed its course! Puttegowda could not believe what has conspired. It took sometime for him to open his eyes and see his own body breathing!

Well, Palksha and others who were watching the incident from safety arrived on the spot and shifted the old man to hospital. He is slowly recovering from the shock and dismay. Onlookers said the tuskar let him go, as it got confused by his shouting. But the learned few say that Lord saved him as the old man remembered Him at the time of death!