5 inter-state sandalwood smugglers arrested

Lucknow, Aug 31 (UNI) Lucknow Police today arrested five alleged inter-state sandalwood smugglers in Thakurganj area here.

The accused were identified as Jamuna, Ashish Agnihotri, Ramesh Lodhi, Sunil Kashyap and Mohd Irshad.

Police said the quintet were planning to cut some sandalwood trees in a Thakurganj locality, when the cops swooped upon them.

Two pistols, besides tree cutting tools were also recovered from their possession.

According to police, the smugglers used to source sandalwood illegally from Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Maharasthra.

They used to sell sandalwood to perfumers in Kannauj district in Uttar Pradesh, police added.

Kannauj is world famous for its perfumery industry.

UNI