Belthangady: Two booked for illegal felling and transportation of timber

Mangalore Today News Network

Belthangady, Jul 22, 2026: The Belthangady Forest Department has registered a case against two persons for allegedly illegally felling and transporting timber after conducting a raid at Gutthu in Puduvettu village on July 18.

During the raid, forest officials found that 16 trees of various species had been illegally cut from government land in Survey No. 142 and from land bearing Survey No. 281/2 owned by Dinesh Gowda. The felled trees had been converted into timber logs and firewood and were being stored, while some timber logs were allegedly being transported illegally in a lorry.

The officials seized 51 timber logs measuring 15.655 cubic metres, 3.000 cubic metres of firewood, and the lorry bearing registration number KA-18-A-1360 used for transportation. The total estimated value of the seized timber, firewood and the vehicle is ₹6.30 lakh.

The accused have been identified as Dinesh Gowda (41), son of Narayana Gowda and a resident of Puduvettu village in Belthangady taluk, and Shahadunni Mohammed G. (27), the lorry driver and a resident of Ira village in Bantwal taluk.

The Forest Department has registered a case under Sections 33(2)(V) and 71A of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, Rule 25(3) of the Karnataka Forest Rules, 1969, and Section 8(1) of the Karnataka Preservation of Trees Act, 1976, and has launched an investigation.

The operation was led by Belthangady Range Forest Officer Mahesh M. Devadiga, along with Deputy Range Forest Officers Ravichandra and Nagesh, forest guards Ravi Jatti, Parashuram, Viresh, Pratap Kumar, and driver Kushal Gowda.