MYSURU: City police have recovered precious stones like corundum rubies and others illegally gathered from forests with the arrest of three people in the city recently.
The arrested are Maqbul Razak, Mohammad Razak and Mir Hassan Razak, all from Chikballapur. Udayagiri police, who arrested them, said they used to collect the stones from forests across the state with the help of locals and then sell it to jewellery shops, spas and massage parlours. They used to pay a paltry sum to the collectors while pocketing a premium from the buyers.
Udayagiri police said as many as 24 gunny bags of raw stones worth not less than `3 lakh and a vehicle used to transport the stones was recovered.
The police said the arrests were made on Sunday afternoon after they got definite information about the accused passing through the city and were caught near Rajivnagar Ring Road.
Sources said the accused used to get the stones mined from Chikkamagaluru, Charmadi Ghat, Bisile Ghat Hoojimalai and Kudusalu reserve forest ranges. It is said the stones which are in different colours, are used in ‘hot stone massage’, ‘aroma therapy’, besides using them in jewellery.