HASSAN: An alleged sandalwood smuggler was shot dead by forest guard at Tirumala Devara Gudda Forest Range, near Salagame in Hassan district in the early hours of Wednesday. 

According to the sources the identity of the accused is yet to be ascertained.

Sources said that the guard during the night patrol in the forest heard the voices of a few men cutting trees. The guard initially fired in the air. The gang hurled stones and wood on the guard in bid to escape. The guard finally shot at the gang which resulted in the death of one.

According to deputy conservator of forests M L Manjunath, the incident occurred when a gang of eight smugglers threw weapons at the department personnel. He informed that there were total of an eight members in the gang and one among them became the victim of the shot from the guard, others were successful in fleeing way from spot.

The body which was examined on the spot had bullet marks on his eyes and back. It seemed as if the victim hit the tree while running after getting shot. SP Rahul Kumar and associates carried out the spot investigation and a case has been registered in this regard.