27 wood cutters arrested, 47 redsander logs recovered

Kadapa: Forest officials have arrested 27 woodcutters and recovered Rs 1.50crores worth international market value 47 redsandard logs, 5 vehicles from them at Nagasanipalle village of Khajipet Mandal wee hours of Monday.

All accused were hailed from Velluru, Kalvakurthy, Villupuram districts of Tamilnadu state.

Addressing press conference Proddaturu Divisional Forest Officer(DFO), M. Guru Prabhakar said that following credible information over illegal transportation of Redsander wood, about 20 forest staff kept watching in Nagasani Palle forest area as they noticed 27 woodcutters loading logs in the vehicles keeping them behind the bushes.

Forest officials raided on the woodcutters and detained them in red hand while indulging in the crime.

The DFO narrated that to divert the attention of police and forest officials the culprits adopting several vulnerable methods. He said that in this particular incident the culprits transporting the precious wood under tomato crates in a separate chamber constructed with an iron sheet.

Replying to a question the DFO said there was the involvement of one International smuggler called Abbas and another 3 persons belongs to Proddaturu town behind the incident as they would be nabbed very soon. Forest staff who participated in the operation were present.