TIRUPATI: Officials of the red sanders anti-smuggling task force arrested three Tamil Nadu-based smugglers and seized 20 red sander logs, during two separate combing operations at Annadammula Banda and Chamala ranges in Seshachalam forest in Chittoor district on Tuesday.
Disclosing case details to reporters, task force SP M. Sundara Rao said, “Based on a tip-off, a task force, led by RI Suresh Kumar, were combing the forest under Annadammula Banda range early on Tuesday, when they encountered a group of smugglers carrying red sanders logs from the forest. Upon seeing the officials, the accused fled from the scene, leaving the logs behind. However, the team managed to take one smuggler, Rama Krishna, 30, of Thiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu, into custody. The seized logs are worth nearly Rs. 70 lakhs.”
In another case, the task force arrested two smugglers as they tried to infiltrate the Seshachalam forest near Chamala in Chandragiri mandal. The accused, Rajendra, 35, and Perumal, 42, hail from Krishnagiri district of Tamil Nadu. A case has been registered and further investigation is underway.
