Four held for stealing seized earth movers from Idukki forest range
Udumbanchola police arrested four men for stealing two forest-department-impounded earth movers from Ponmudi section in Idukki.
The Udumbanchola police in Idukki district arrested four men on Tuesday in connection with the theft of two earth movers that had been impounded by the Forest department. The vehicles were seized as part of a case registered on September 2 regarding the illegal felling of 69 trees in the Cardamom Hill Reserve area of a private estate under the Ponmudi forest section of the Devikulam range.
After seizing the machinery, the department had sealed the vehicles and submitted a report to the Judicial First Class Magistrate Court in Nedumkandam. Devikulam Range Officer E.D. Arun Kumar said the owner of the earth movers led a four-member team on Monday night, using two lorries to remove the impounded vehicles. The group allegedly destroyed the official seals and marks affixed by the department.
During a patrol, Ponmudi section forest officer P.A. Johnson noticed the theft and tracked the vehicles to Chathurangappara. He alerted the Chathurangappara section forest officer, the range officer, and the police. A police team reached the spot, arrested the accused, and recovered the stolen vehicles.
The arrested individuals were identified as Rajakumari residents Basil (33) and Shalbin (28), both tipper drivers, along with their helpers Bibin (26) and Ajin (26). Mr. Kumar noted that the theft of seized equipment is a serious offence, and two cases have been booked against the accused—one for illegal tree felling and another for the theft of vehicles held in custody.
In June, large-scale tree felling and illegal construction were reported at the Gudanpara estate under the same forest section. The Kerala High Court later initiated a suo motu case regarding that incident.