Red sanders logs worth RS. 3.5 crore seized by the Chittoor police on a surprise raid

By Our Special Correspondent

Seven smugglers were arrested by the task force and Chittoor police and seized red sanders logs worth Rs 3.5 crore. Senthil Kumar while addressing media persons, said at Task Force office here on Wednesday, Red Sander Anti Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) DIG (in-charge) the combing team led by RI Suresh Kumar Reddy seized 80 red sander logs weighing about 2 tons and valued about Rs 1 crore on Vadamalapeta – Puttur Road on Tuesday night, after arresting six smugglers.

Chittoor Police arrested M Perumal (33), a native of Tiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu, who had been smuggling red sanders since 2014. At least 15 cases have been registered against him, including murder, across Andhra Pradesh. Police seized 100 logs valued at Rs 2.50 crore and four vehicles worth Rs 50 lakh from his possession on Wednesday.

Speaking to mediapersons, district SP Rishanth Reddy said that Chittoor East Circle Inspector P Balaiah, Sub-Inspector Ramakrishna and their force have conducted vehicle checking drive in Tirupati.

On a tip-off, a team led by CI K Balaiah conducted vehicular checking at Cherlopalli cross on Tirupati-Bengaluru highway on Wednesday. "Perumal and his associate C Velu, who were heading to Vellore from Tirupati, noticed the police and tried to flee. However, police arrested them," police said.

The SP further said that total 9 red sanders smugglers Thambi, Balaji, Ajit, Vinod, Sarat, Ramesh, Don, Kumar and Chinnappayan were absconding and Chittoor police have intensified the combing operation to nab the smugglers. ASP (Operations) K V Srinivasa Rao, Chittoor DSP N Sudhakar Reddy and other police officers were present.