24 red sanders logs seized; 1 arrested

Nellore: Forest officials conducted raids at reserve forest located in Kadirinaidupalli area in Marripadu mandal in the district on Tuesday and seized 24 red sanders logs worth Rs 7 lakh, a truck and took a person into custody. The accused was identified as M Sardar.

Addressing the media at Atmakur Forest Division Office here on Tuesday, Nellore Divisional Forest Officer C Venugopal Rao said that the team members from the Forest Department conducted raids in forest area close to Kadirinaidupalli.

“Around 20 Tamil Nadu woodcutters have escaped from the forest area due to raids by the forest teams. Atmakur Forest officials seized a truck and driver, who regularly transport red sanders logs from the forest area to the Chennai,” said the DFO.

He said they had identified tomato boxes in a truck in which red sanders logs were kept inside and transported them, he added. A manhunt was launched in the forest to take another accused into custody, said the DFO.

He also said that they had filed case and produced the accused before the court. Deputy Range Officer G Mangamma, Range Officer S Hari, officials D Rammohan Rao, staff members K Krishnaiah, M Srinivasulu, Sk Khaja, P Tirupati, M Gowtham and others were present.