Tirupati: In a big catch, sleuths of Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) on Tuesday seized ₹1 crore worth 127 red sanders logs during combing operations at three different locations within forest areas of Tirupati district. The task force took into custody 15 smugglers in connection with these cases.
RSASTF SP K. Chakravarthy had ordered the launch of combing operations within Srikalahasti, Yerpedu and KVB Puram forests areas. The teams started the combing operations from three locations in the Seshachalam forests on Monday night.
According to the SP, while combing the area near S. Rama Puram reservoir in Srikalahasti range, the first team encountered a group of smugglers carrying red sanders logs. When the team challenged them, they fled from the spot leaving behind 74 logs. The team, however, gave chase and nabbed seven smugglers.
They have been identified as B. Raja Rao (52, kingpin of the gang), T. Hari (32), K. Chandrasekhar (34), D. Hari Krishna (32), K. Lokaiah (33), Mohamad Kadir (26) and A. Venkatesh (52), all hailing from different parts of Tirupati district. Task force is searching for forest watcher Tirupal, as he had been found helping smugglers.
The second team had been combing forests in Krishnapuram of Yerpedu mandal when they spotted a group of people standing under palm trees in the area. On sighting the team, they tried to escape. However, the team caught two smugglers – D. Prabhu (34) of Nagalapuram and V. Narayana (48) of Karakambadi. Based on information provided by the two, the task force recovered 28 red sanders logs hidden in the forest.
In another operation within SL Puram forest under KVB Puram limits, the task force team nabbed five smugglers, identified as Sharif (29), B. Anil (24), V. Prem Kumar (26). V. Siva Kumar (22) and M. Tulasiram (32), and seized 25 logs from their possession.
