1 injured in firing between smugglers and officials

Mysore, Jun 24(UNI) One person was injured in firing between forest officials and timber smugglers at Kurubara Kanchipura in H D Kote Forest Range tonight.

District forest official sources said here that a gang of eight timber smugglers were involved in cutting tick trees in the forest areas when forest officials noticed them. The officials asked the smugglers to surrender, however, in return the smugglers opened fire on the officials and in the exchange of fire one of the smugglers received bullet injures while seven other smugglers managed to escape.

The injured smuggler has been identified as Kariya and has been admitted to H D Kote Hospital for treatment, the sources said.

A search was on to hunt the other smugglers, they added.

UNI BSP AM UCS0002