Forest godown looted: staff attacked

Mangalore, Apr 17 (UNI) A 15-member armed gang attacked four staff members of a forest godown and escaped with 1,200 kg of sandalwood billets, valued at Rs six lakh, at Hoige Bazaar here today.

Police said the gang, which forced entry into the forest godown, attacked the staff with lethal weapons and snatched their cash and jewellery worth Rs 50,000.

The gang members, conversing in Kannada, also locked the nearby houses to prevent them from rescuing the staff members, before decamping with the booty.

UNI