Kolkata: Police from Rajarhat had to step in after several men, armed with saws and axes, rampantly chopped down mango trees in an orchard located in Kalikapur village under Patharghata gram panchayat on Saturday morning.
Locals had alerted the police after they failed to stop the men from hacking down the trees. However, by the time the cops arrived , the woodcutters had fled the scene.
Cops confiscated the axes and saws that were left behind.
Locals alleged that the orchard, spanning three-and-a-half bigha, was being cleared for a construction project. Pinky Mondal, head of Patharghata gram panchayat, said, “We don’t know who was behind this. The panchayat plants trees throughout the year. We do not permit anyone to cut down trees. Police should investigate the matter and punish those involved in this offence.”