Haliyal: Forest Department officials arrested two persons moving on a two wheeler with plastic bag containing sandalwood pieces weighting 30 Kg, in Dongrikoppa reserve forest areas in Haliyal taluk.

The accused are identified as Siddappa Kushal of Arebasankoppa village in Kalghatagi taluk of Dharwad district and Kallapa Gudhal, had axed five sandalwood trees and were escaping with the pieces when a raid was conducted.