A five-member gang of smugglers engaged in dealing with sandalwood was busted by the Habibganj police from Char Imli area on Wednesday and recovered sandalwood from their possession.
According to the police on Wednesday after receiving information regarding sandalwood smugglers at Char Imli area a police team was rushed to the spot and detained three persons who were roaming suspiciously in the area.
When the three were
questioned, they confirmed stealing Sandalwood from different areas of the city.
The three were identified as Mausam Khan (40), Bhura Khan (30) and Kasim Khan (30). In the initial probe the nabbed miscreants confirmed about their two accomplices Rafeeq Khan (19) and Waheed Khan (35) who were nabbed later on Thursday.
They confirmed around 9 thefts in Habibganj, TT Nagar and Jehangirabad areas. Rafeeq and Waheed are residents of Bhopal while Mausam and Bhura are residents of Sehore and Kasim is a resident of Vidisha.
All the nabbed accuseds are labours and used to relocate according to the availability of the work in different areas of the state but they used to work as labour to evade suspicion and arrest.
The accused have disclosed that they have also stolen sandalwood from the Governor House which was a shocking revelation for one of the most closely guarded premises of the State.
For the past 4-5 years they used to recce the Sandal trees and would steal the aromatic part of the tree and would sell the part to sandalwood smugglers in Sehore who have links with people in Kannauj in UP. Accused used to sell Sandalwood for around Rs1600 to Rs2200 per kg.