Sandalwood heist strikes NIBM grounds
A brazen sandalwood theft recently shook the tranquil grounds of the National Institute of Bank Management (NIBM) situated in Kondhwa. This incident marks the sixth reported sandalwood theft to rattle the vicinity in the current year.
The incident was brought to light when Harish Redekar (47), a dedicated NIBM employee, filed a formal complaint with the Kondhwa police station. Responding promptly, the Kondhwa police invoked section 379 of the Indian Penal Code, initiating proceedings against unidentified perpetrators. The sprawling expanse of NIBM’s campus hosts a diverse array of foliage, including prized sandalwood trees. In the early hours of Wednesday, miscreants managed to pilfer a quantity of sandalwood, inflicting an estimated financial setback of Rs 30,000.
Authorities revealed that the scene of the crime lacked the watchful gaze of CCTV cameras, leaving investigative avenues relatively limited. The responsibility for untangling this enigmatic occurrence has been shouldered by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Swapnil Patil.
In a disconcerting prelude to this latest incident, the audacious sandalwood thieves had previously menaced a security guard by brandishing a sword perilously close to his neck. In their audacious escapade, they also made away with personal belongings, including clothing and a debit card, belonging to another vigilant security personnel.
The recurrent specter of sandalwood theft, which carries the dual potential for endangering lives and inflicting financial loss, prompted NIBM authorities to entertain the notion of seeking municipal permission to fell these coveted trees. However, the trees’ status as government property placed the matter within the purview of government jurisdiction.
Speaking to Pune Pulse, Swapnil Patil, ACP, Kondhwa Police Station, said “The plaintiff in his complaint said that, on 16 August, at 4:30 am, the trunks of 2 sandalwood trees were cut from the premises. The sandalwood trees belong to NIBM institute. It has been found that each trunk costs Rs 15 thousand each. So, 2 trunks of Rs 30 thousand have been stolen from NIBM institute.”
As per information from Patil, a case has been registered under Section 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and further investigation is going on.
According to the police, CCTV cameras were not installed in the vicinity of the spot where the theft took place. A few days before the incident, a security guard was attacked by sandalwood looters who pointed a sword at him and stole his clothes as well as another security guard’s debit card.
