Red sanders worth 20 lakh seized, 10 held

Kadapa: In two separate incidents that occurred in Rayachoti and Railway Kodur mandals, the Task Force police and forest officials have arrested 10 persons and seized 70 red sanders logs on Sunday.

According to Rajampet Divisional Forest Officer SK Khadarvali, acting on tip-off that smugglers illegally chopping red sanders logs at Jillelamanda village of Sundipalle mandal in Sanipayee forest range, the police and forest officials have conducted raids and seized red sanders logs weighed 448 kgs (15 logs) worth Rs 20 lakh, two cars used for transporting wood and arrested three persons.

The accused were identified as Shanmukham Dana Sekhar of Gudupalle village of Kotamandal, Chittoor district, Ponnuswamy Tangaraju, Chinnayappan Ranjith Kovilanuru village Poluru mandal of Tiruvannamalai district.

In another incident the Task Force police during combing operation conducted at Devisetty Palle forest area in Railway Kodur mandal, arrested seven smugglers and recovered 55 red sanders logs from them in the wee hours of Sunday.

The accused were identified as G Prabhakar, Rangampet, C Srinivasulu, Srikalahasti, A Guravaiah, K Eswaraiah, M Chenchuramaiah of Tirupati, Chittoor district, C Chenchuramaiah, B Sudhakar, Garlakunta village of Venkatagiri mandal. Police said some smugglers managed to escape in the cover of darkness. Tirupati Task force police registered a case.