Kodanad break-in: Suspicion over role of timber trader's kin

Ooty: With higher police officers silent on the suspense over the accused involved in the Kodanad break-in, there is talk that the kin of the influential timber trader in Gudalur who is well connected with the Kodanad management played a role for the vehicle to cross the border.

While police are working round the clock to nab two more accused who are at large, people are asking why check-post police in Gudalur bordering Kerala, let the two vehicles in which the accused travelled, to cross the border. Sources said that while the two vehicles the gang used were hired from Wayanad on Kerala-Nilgiris border, one vehicle was actually stopped and taken to the nearby police station in Gudalur in the early morning of April 24, as those in the vehicle failed to produce proper documents.

Relative of the influential timber trader in Gudalur pressured police through ruling party bigwigs to release the vehicle, and this eventually helped the accused to cross the border. Kin of the timber merchant is learnt to have gone into hiding about a week ago.