Veerappan’s ghost? Sandalwood heist shakes Hamirpur residents

The town was jolted this week after the mysterious felling of six sandalwood trees in just two nights, evoking memories of the dreaded smuggler Veerappan. The stolen trees, aged between 10 and 25 years, were cut from different locations, leaving behind shocked residents and scattered branches.

Three trees were axed inside the campus of the National Institute of Technology, while another was stolen from the house of Rajender Kumar and his neighbour, retired BSF officer OP Attri in Hira Nagar. One more was cut down in Gaura Kalan, falling under the Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction. The thieves, working with precision, cut the trunks just three inches above the ground and carried away the main stems, leaving tell-tale signs of their overnight operation.

Some of the felled sandalwood trees were mature and highly valuable. Officials estimate the stolen wood weighs over 100 kg. With white sandalwood currently fetching around Rs 150 for just 100 grams, the market value of the haul could run into several lakhs.

Shocked residents, who had nurtured these trees for years, woke up to the grim sight of stumps where prized sandalwood once stood. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation.