Sugandhagiri tree felling: CCTV footage surfaces

VYTHIRI: Visuals of tree cutting in Sugandhagiri Chennayakavala have surfaced on Tuesday. The massive tree felling took place in the land once given to landless tribal as part of the Sugandhagiri Cardamom Project. In the footage, it is seen that large machines were used to cut the trees.

The section forest officer was earlier suspended for failing to report the matter on a timely basis. The accused in the case have applied for anticipatory bail, and are still at large. Two people from Kozhikode and four from Wayanad are accused in the case. The crime was conducted using the tribal as shields.

A large number of trees were felled in the guise that it posed a threat to houses in the region. More than 80 trees were cut while the permission was only for 20 to be brought down. The news saw light only after a lot of timber got transported out of the place.