Jail-term for 9 red sanders smugglers in separate cases

Chittoor: In a significant achievement to the Police Department, Chittoor Assistant Session Judge has sentenced eight-and-a-half-year jail-term for 9 red sanders smugglers in two separate cases. A fine of Rs 3 lakh each was also imposed on them. 

Five smugglers P Veera Mahamani, P Sankar, S Balamurugan, M Madan and Mohammed Rafi all from Tamil Nadu were convicted in a case registered by Chittoor Taluk police for smuggling red sanders logs. 

Four more smugglers C Siva Kumar, S Ramesh, R Murugan and M Lakshaman also from Tamil Nadu were also convicted in a case by the judge. They were sentenced to eight-and-a-half years imprisonment and also to a pay a fine of Rs 3 lakh each by the judge Kumar.

The conviction of nine smugglers to a long period of jail term and fine of a big amount of Rs 3 lakh each is for the first time in a red sanders smuggling case in Chittoor district and is sure to boost up the morale of forest, police and Red Sanders Anti-smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) engaged against red sanders smuggling which is more in Chittoor and Kadapa districts. 

Speaking to the media, District SP Vikrant Patil termed the conviction as remarkable and added that it would go a long way in deterring red sanders operatives and also those from the district involving in the illegal smuggling of endemic red sanders from Seshachalam forests. All the accused were sent to Chittoor sub-jail after the judge Kumar pronounced the verdict.