Bengaluru: As many as 150 policemen armed with AK 47s raided a farmhouse in Kattigegalli near Hoskote early on Saturday morning at 1 AM.

This may sound like a scene lifted from any Kannada action thriller or an anti-terrorist operation. But this operation was carried out to arrest the father-son duo of Kattigehalli village, who were running a sandalwood mafia. The duo was arrested for smuggling 6 kgs of sandalwood in Bengaluru.

D Devaraj, DCP, central division led the operation from the front. Speaking to the reporters he stated that Sayed Riyaz (49) and his son Sayed Sher Ali (28) were running a sandalwood mafia from their farmhouse. “Recently when the police started an investigation to find out who is behind the sandalwood tree theft from the Rajbhavan, High Court Chief Justice’s residence etc, it was found that the father-son duo was behind it. When four PSIs visited the village to arrest them, the villagers chased them out by pelting stones. That is why 150 police personnel, many with modern arms were rushed to the village to arrest both of them,” he said.

According to the police sources, AK 47s were taken by the police to counter in the event of any attack. “The locals tried to block by pelting stones. But after seeing the arms, they made way,” the police said adding that both the father and son have been arrested.

The police have booked the two under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) section 379 (punishment for theft) and under various provisions of the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963.

“We have also recovered a few stolen automobiles and unaccounted cash of Rs 35 lakh from them,” the police officer said.

Under the Karnataka Forest Act, 1963, possession and storage of sandalwood and its related products is an offence.

As one of the most expensive woods in the world, sandalwood, which grows in Mysuru region, is used in fragrances, handicrafts and for health benefits.

With inputs from IANS