Task force team nabs 80 smugglers from Tamil Nadu

Tirupati: In a cinematic style, the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) caught 80 smugglers at Anjaneyapuram forest check-post, Renigunta mandal in Chittoor district on Friday when they are moving in a lorry from Arakkadu of Tamil Nadu.

For the first time the task force sleuths caught many smugglers creating a sensation among the locals. Acting on a tip-off from Tamil Nadu informers, the task force police have prepared a plan to arrest the smugglers who were travelling by a lorry from Arakkadu of Tamil Nadu.

According to RSASTF SP Ravi Sankar, task force sub-inspector G Ashok Kumar received concrete information from Tamil Nadu informers that over 80 smugglers moving towards Chittoor district for cutting red sanders logs at Seshachalam forest.

As part of the strategy, the cops have divided into four teams and kept a vigil at various places along the Tirupati- Kadapa highway. In the wee hours of Friday, police have noticed a lorry with duplicate AP registration number and tried to intercept it. However, the lorry driver escaped from the cops.

Later, the police intercepted the lorry at Anjaneyapuram forest check-post after chasing it for a few hours. They arrested 80 smugglers and seized the equipment being used for cutting the wood.

Interestingly, the smugglers were travelling by lorry under the cover of tarpaulin. The smugglers caught by task force police were aged below 30 and some were pursuing PG at Triuvannamalai Arts College.

Speaking to media, Govindu,20, a student, who was pursuing PG at Tiruvannamalai college, said “When I came back from college to house, a few locals called me for work offering huge money. In fact, I did not know what the real work is and came here blindly.”

Addressing media, SP Ravisankar said the teams have done a good job in the special operation and prevented the smugglers before entering forest to cut the red sanders trees. Task Force IG Kantha Rao also appreciated the police personnel for their commendable job.