Madikeri: Rampant illegal mining of precious stones has been reported from the Subramanya Range Forest of Dakshina Kannada, Koojimalai and Suttathmalai of Kodagu district where smugglers are unearthing gemstones hoodwinking the Forest Department. These precious stones are extracted from the forests with the help of locals and are sold at a premium to luxury hotels, jewellery shops, and spas and massage parlours.
There is an organised gang that smuggles the stones from Chikkamagalur, Charmadi Ghat, Bisile Ghat Koojimalai, Pushpagiri and Kudusalu Reserve Forest ranges. Smugglers convince the locals and villagers to mine the precious stones after promising them a percentage in the deal.
