Idukki, Thursday, 18 June 2010: Range Officer M. Joshil was injured in an attack by the sandalwood smugglers. He has been admitted to Munnar General Hospital, here.

The Marayour Range Officer and team in connection with sandalwood smuggling had taken a group into custody in these last days. Three more had to be captured in this case including a woman; the team had reached the Pongampally Adivasi colony in search of them.

The report says that tribals under a woman leader tried to obstruct the investigation and tied him up, and later went into manhandling him. He later fired a shot at the sky. However, an adivasi youth had been hospitalized alleging injured in the firing. He had been taken to Kottayam Medical College for further treatment, says report.

(Agency)