PUDUCHERRY: The Forest Department officials arrested three persons and registered case against them for illegally felling trees from the ancient archeological site, Arikamedu, here on Thursday.
Deputy Conservator of Forests G Sathiyamoorthy, said after receiving information about the unauthorised felling of trees from the compound of the ancient historic site, the personnel from Forest department rushed to the spot and arrested the three. The accused, Segar (49), Elumalai (30) and Gnanabalan (30), all hailing from Villupuram district of Tamil Nadu, have been booked under Section 4 of the Timber Transit Act 1983, and a case has been booked against them, he said. As per the instructions of the Conservator of Forests Kumar, further enquiries will be conducted into the felling of trees and the Forest Department has issued summons to two more persons involved in the illegal act. The illegal felling of trees from the area came to light after alert to the Logu Ayappam of Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam. He, along with Deena alias Deenathayalan and their followers, rushed to the spot.
Arikamedu is an archaeological site near Pondicherry belonging to 1st century BC.