2 held for smuggling sandalwood; Chinese accomplice escapes

Two persons, allegedly involved in smuggling of sandalwood logs, were arrested and forest goods worth Rs 1.25 crore seized from the duo from central Delhi's Patel Nagar area, police said today.
Third accused, a Chinese national identified as Chen XI GUI, managed to escape from the spot.
The arrested include Birbal Yadav (32) and Jitender Yadav (26), brothers and natives of district Jamui in Bihar.
On December 23, Kotwali police got a tip off about sandalwood being smuggled and laid a trap opposite old Delhi Railway Station Exit Gate and apprehended the two accused and recovered around 487 kg of sandalwood from them.

"When interrogated the accused disclosed that they had come to settle a deal with some Chinese smugglers. Efforts were made to arrest the Chinese smuggler and raids were conducted at East House, Aruna Nagar Colony in Majnu Ka Tilla, but he could not be found.
"The copies of passport have been obtained from the hotel and further probe is on," a senior police official said.