Three red sanders smugglers were gunned down at Nagapatla valley in the down reaches of Tirumala Hills, 15 km from Tirumala, on Thursday morning after a combing party comprising forest guards and policemen, was attacked by a group of over 100 smugglers at about 9 a.m.
The Divisional Forest Officer (Tirupati wildlife), Srinivas, told The Hindu that over one hundred smugglers, including hired labourers, were operating in the deep valley, felling red sanders trees and dressing the logs and to keep them ready for clandestine transport.
The party attached to the wildlife division has been combing the hill ranges for the past three days and rushed to the spot on a tip-off. On seeing the combing party, the smugglers started pelting stones and continued their attack in spite of a warning to desist from doing so. Some of the smugglers started throwing axes and machetes at the combing party. In retaliation, the combing party opened fire, leading to the killing of three smugglers.
According to preliminary information, as many as four smugglers or hired labourers were injured, while others had escaped deep into the forests. Additional forces from Chandragiri, Bhakarapeta, Chinnagottigallu and the bordering Kadapa district, which form the core belt of the Seshachalam hills, were rushed to cordon off the areas that provide exit routes to the smugglers.
In a separate incident, red sanders smugglers tried to assault a sub-inspector at Devarakonda forest beat in Chinnagottigallu mandal on Thursday morning. These smugglers too hurled axes at the police, who escaped from the assault bid and overpowered them, leading to the arrest of two of them, while others fled. Red sanders logs worth Rs. 25 lakh were seized.
