A 42-year-old man was arrested by Tirupattur Taluk police for chopping a sandalwood tree on the bund of a temple tank at Puthagaram village near Tirupattur town on Sunday.

The arrested person was identified as K. Thangaraj, a resident of Jamunamarathur village atop Jawadhu Hills. Initial inquiry revealed that it was around 7 a.m when a few devotees noticed three persons, including Thangaraj chopping a sandalwood tree around 10 ft tall, on the bund of the tank.

As devotees raised alarm, other devotees and residents rushed to the tank. They managed to nab the suspect Thangaraj while the other two fled the spot. On being informed, Tirupattur Taluk police and forest officials inspected the spot. A case was registered. The police were analysing CCTV cameras on the route to nab absconding suspects. A probe is under way.