Sandalwood tree worth lakhs stolen from govt-run auditorium premises

Bhubaneswar: Taking advantage of rain and thunderstom, miscreants chopped and stole a 30-year-old sandalwood tree worth lakhs from the premises of the govt-run Jayadev Bhawan auditorium in the early hours of Sunday.The incident which happened right opposite the state secretariat, in the heart of the city and a high-security zone, has come as an embarrassment for the police. Jayadev Bhawan management has, meanwhile, lodged a complaint with Capital police station.“We have registered an FIR and launched an investigation. We are collecting CCTV footage of the vicinity. Jayadev Bhawan is guarded by private security guards, and we are questioning them,” said DCP Jagmohan Meena.Jayadev Bhawan authorities suspect the theft occurred past midnight during heavy rain and thunderstorm. “Early morning, we discovered that the sandalwood tree, nearly 10ft high and 3ft wide, had been cut down and stolen. It is shocking because the auditorium is considered secure and has guards,” a staff member said.Another staffer pointed out that two private security guards manning the two gates had abandoned their posts during the downpour.

The absence of CCTV cameras around the building’s outer periphery may further complicate the probe.“The thieves took advantage of the thundershowers and committed the offence. Surprisingly, though they used a chainsaw, the guards claimed they did not hear any noise. Both gates were locked, so the culprits must have scaled the walls,” a police officer said, suspecting an insider role in the offence. Police have also informed the forest department, as sandalwood trees are protected under the Forest Act.