SI held for smuggling red sanders

Tirupati: The Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) Sub-Inspector Somasekhara arrested on the charges of smuggling red sanders logs here on Friday. 

The SI caught along with a four other smugglers, who were illegally transporting 21 red sanders logs worth Rs 14 lakh in a car, after a hot chase by the East Police at Tanapalli cross on the city outskirts at 3 am in the morning on Friday. 

East Police Station Circle Inspector M Chandrababu Naidu along with Sub-Inspector S Jayachandra, who led the pre-dawn operation against the smugglers leading to the arrest of SI along with 4 smugglers, speaking to media here on Friday said acting on credible information a police party of East Police station checking vehicles at Leelamhal Circle in the city, since 2 in the morning. 

Two SUVs-Innova and Bolero-drivers did not stop even after signalling by the police party checking the vehicles at the Circle and sped away, alerting the police to follow the two vehicles.

The two vehicles speeding fast towards Srinivasam TTD Pilgrim Complex suddenly took a turn at TUDA office road junction after noticing a constable on night duty and moved on to Nalugukallamantapam, RC Road, Annamayya Circle and reached Puthalapattu-Naidupeta highway but was intercepted by the police party, who are keeping a watch on the highway after being alerted by the police party chasing the smugglers from Leelamahal Junction at Tanapalli. 

In all, five were arrested including SI Somasekhara, VP Ummar (Kerala), driver Andiyan from Tamil Nadu, Tupakula Siva from Tirupati Rural, who is providing the logistics to the smugglers for the illegal transportation of red sanders and Vinayak Reddy, a native of Ramireddypalli in Pulicherla mandal in the district also an accused in red sanders smuggling case. 

Police sources said that the case against SI was informed to higher-ups for follow up action. Somasekhara joined the police service and worked as SI in Chapadu in 2011 and transferred to Proddatur to work as Traffic SI before his posting in RSASTF, sources added. 

It is learnt that police grew suspicious of Somasekhara aiding smugglers for the illegal transportation of the red sanders logs outside the district but were able to nab him along with smugglers on Friday.