The Thottilpalam police have initiated an investigation into the illegal felling and smuggling of nearly 15 teak trees planted by the Irrigation Department as part of a social forestry initiative at Mundakkutti in Maruthonkara panchayat. The incident came to light following a complaint filed by the Irrigation department officials.

Police sources said the teak trees lost in the incident were all 20-years-old. Though the statements of some of the local timber merchants and residents were collected as part of the continuing investigation, there were no clues about the suspected smugglers.

Irrigation Department sources said there were no proper access roads to the site to easily take away the stolen trees. According to them, timber smuggling would not be possible from such an isolated area without the knowledge of some local agents.

Police sources said the details of some of the goods-carriers and timber agents were gathered to make headway in the probe. Search was also intensified to locate the stolen timbers, they said.