Why pruning of timber tree species is a strict no-no
Pruning of timber tree species harms both the quality and quantity of wood and needs to be checked immediately
Karnataka hangs on to its sandalwood
The Karnataka government ostensibly allows private production of sandalwood, but actually maintains a tight rein on the trade. In fact, eight …
About 20,000 tonnes of Red Sanders were smuggled from India between 2016 and 2020: Report
Heartwood of Red Sanders is in demand in the domestic and international markets for making furniture, handicrafts and musical instruments
When alienation ruins
Sandalwood smuggling, epitomised by Veerappan, has become a collective phenomenon involving entire villages, which even the ban on sandalwood …
Charaka and Sushruta reborn
Bangalore University's new BioPark has medicinal gardens that incorporate the near-forgotten science of India's ancient medical treatises
20 alleged sandalwood smugglers killed in firing in Andhra Pradesh
Red sandalwood smuggling has thrived over the past 10 years. But the trade has once again taken a bloody turn, bringing back memories of the …
When laws make out laws
Everybody's a loser. Forest guards die for laws that cannot be defended. Poor people get exploited. Veerappan rules the jungle. Sandalwood trees …
Politicians, activists condemn killing of alleged sandalwood smugglers in Andhra
Amnesty International and National Human Rights Commission seek explanation from Andhra Pradesh government
Seshachalam killing: Hyderabad High Court orders fresh post-mortem
Killing of 20 people has also led to uproar by human rights activists who have called it a brutal police action
For common sense
Down To Earth articles on shahtoosh and Veerappan provoke comment. We decided to excerpt them. But first, the editor's rejoinder
NHRC orders judicial probe into Seshachalam ‘encounter’
Witnesses depose before human rights commission, challenge the ‘self-defence’ argument of Andhra Pradesh Special Task Force
Tensions that continue
While launching this newsmagazine, our founder-editor Anil Agarwal had said that in the years ahead, India will have to seize every possible …
Catch me a colossus
Catching Veerappan, who amuses himself upsetting the government cart, is like trying to cage a titan. The State is in no position to meet his …