Timber thief assaults ACF

Manjunath Devaru Bhat allegedly assaulted ACF Ashok Bhat when he seized the lorry transporting the smuggled timber and arrested two of his associates.

Ashok, who collapsed on the spot with chest pain, has been admitted to a private hospital in Mangalore.

Acting on a tip-off, Range Forest Officers T R Hittalamani and Veerappa Gowda along with staff H S Ingalagi, Devaraja, Keerthana, Ganapati Naika and Pradeepa Naika intercepted the lorry transporting teak and wood from Bailagadde near Herangadi towards Honnavar, and arrested Suresh Madeva Naik and Jayarama Mohan Marathi.

On the basis of the information given during their interrogation, a team of officers led by Ashok Bhat, went to the residence of Manjunath Bhat in Karki. During interrogation, an irate Manjunath kicked the ACF on the chest, said RFO Veerappa Gowda in his complaint to the police.

Manjunath got himself admitted to a private hospital, claiming injury to the leg. Deputy Conservator of Forests Krishna D Udapudi said Manjunath will be booked for assaulting a government officer on duty.