Following a tip-off that some smugglers were transporting sandalwood and rosewood from the forests in a vehicle, probationary SP Sunil Kumar Reddy, who was posted at Rippenpet police station in Shimoga district's Hosangar taluk, and his team rushed to the spot and took two members of the gang into custody last night.
When the officer was questioning them, the other two gang members who were hiding, suddenly attacked the police team, injuring the officer. The gang then escaped in their vehicle.
However, the police team immediately alerted their counterparts at Shimoga and Sagar and within hours, the other two smugglers were arrested in Sagar police limits.
They have been remanded to police custody.
The injured police officer has been admitted to a private hospital in Shimoga, where he is stated to be recovering, sources said.
