The city of Pune is grappling with a concerning surge in sandalwood theft cases, with two recent incidents highlighting the growing menace. The thefts occurred in the Mohammadwadi and Karvenagar areas, prompting residents to express their concerns over the escalating trend.
In one of the incidents, an elderly citizen approached the Alankar Police Station to report the theft within the premises of the Sneh Cooperative Housing Society situated in Karvenagar. According to the police, unidentified culprits infiltrated the society and brazenly stole sandalwood trees. Their audacity was demonstrated as they skillfully felled a sandalwood tree located within the society’s office premises, leaving behind a trail of darkness and dismay.
Assistant Police Sub-Inspector Mahesh Nimbalakar is spearheading the investigation to uncover the perpetrators responsible for this audacious act. Meanwhile, another case unfolded in the Gulamalinagar area of Mohammadwadi, where thieves managed to make off with a sandalwood tree. Asif Sayyad, a 37-year-old resident of Rasool Mohammadwadi Road, Hadapsar, lodged a formal complaint at the Wanawadi Police Station regarding the incident.
Notably, this surge in sandalwood thefts comes on the heels of a recent incident where thieves targeted sandalwood trees on the premises of the Kirloskar Company in the Khadki area. During that incident, the perpetrators not only stole the valuable trees but also resorted to assaulting a security guard stationed on-site.
