Hyderabad: Police bust MP gang involved in cutting, smuggling sandalwood trees; 4 women held, 19 on run

Hyderabad: Police have busted a Madhya Pradesh gang that was cutting and smuggling sandalwood trees in Hyderabad.

Parthi gang with 23 members, including women and children, had entered the city nearly 20 days ago and began targeting sandalwood trees in Jubilee Hills and Yousufguda surroundings. They operated under the guise of families selling brass garlands, using children to avoid public and police suspicion.

The activities were carried out in a coordinated and systematic manner, with stolen sandalwood being transported and sold to local smugglers. The group’s methods indicate a structured interstate criminal network.

Gang used women and children as a cover

To avoid attracting suspicion, the gang moved in groups that appeared to be families. Police revealed that the presence of women and children allowed them to freely survey and access targeted locations without raising an alarm.

Sandalwood trees targeted at the NI-MSME Campus

The gang focused their thefts around the NI-MSME campus in Jubilee Hills, operating primarily at night. They would cut the sandalwood trees and transport the logs in auto-rickshaws under the cover of darkness.

Jubilee Hills police have arrested four women from the gang: Palani Bai, Shanaz Bai, Nimat Bai, and Madhuri Adivasi. The remaining 19 gang members are currently absconding, and efforts are on to trace them.

10 Sandalwood trees recovered

Police have recovered sandalwood from ten trees and handed it over to the Forest Department for valuation. The exact worth of the seized wood will be determined by officials.

Police probe expands to can wider network

Authorities are investigating whether the gang came solely for sandalwood theft or had plans to engage in other criminal activities. The police are also probing who the end buyers of the stolen wood are and whether any organized network is backing the gang.