Two men from Madhya Pradesh were electrocuted on Saturday night while allegedly trying to steal sandalwood trees from an areca nut plantation in Chitradurga district. The incident occurred at a farm owned by Jayaram on Kanjanahalli Road in Dharmapura, Hiriyur taluk, according to police reports.
Chitradurga Superintendent of Police Ranjit Kumar Bandaru stated that the men had been staying about 2 kilometers from the plantation and had plotted to steal the sandalwood trees. “They entered the plantation between 1 AM and 2 AM with tools like an axe and a sawing blade. Unfortunately, they accidentally stepped on a damaged underground wire and were electrocuted before they could start their work,” he explained.
The electric wire, which was buried just a foot below the surface to power a motor pump, had damaged insulation. Heavy rainfall in the area had caused the ground to become waterlogged, increasing the risk of electrocution. The incident was discovered early the next morning when Jayaram arrived to inspect his estate.
Initial investigations revealed that the men had set up a tent near Swabhimana School on Kanjanahalli Road. Police recovered the tools intended for cutting the sandalwood trees near their bodies.
A case has been registered, and further investigations are underway to gather more information. Authorities believe the men aimed to steal the valuable sandalwood but tragically met their end when they encountered the live wire.
