Social activist Sai Dutta, who’s battling to save trees, said these contract killers pose a major threat to the city’s greenery. “These gangs are usually hired by the advertizing mafia and are paid around Rs 2-3 lakh, depending on the size of the tree. They’re given instructions to clear the branches quickly so that nobody notices the fallen tree,” he added.
They come in the dead of night, murder with precision and melt away without leaving a trail. They are armed with sophisticated weapons. Their victims cannot even scream for help, for they are trees — mute and harmless.
They are the new hit men, a growing breed of supari killers who axe trees to make a quick buck. They’re mostly employed by the advertizing mafia, who want to get rid of trees so their hoardings get better visibility.
One such case came to light on a morning a few weeks ago. A group of citizens was taking a stroll down Museum Road in Central Bangalore when a chopped silver oak stopped them in their tracks. Officials of the BBMP’s tree division found the 60-year-old tree had been cut in just 30-40 minutes, using sophisticated cutters and other tools.
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