The Piler rural police on Friday nabbed 13 red sanders smuggling operatives, including six forest protection watchers of Talakona forest beat of Seshachalam hills, under Yerravaripalem and Rompicherla police limits, and seized about a tonne of red sanders logs, an auto and four motorcycles from their possession.
Piler Rural Circle-Inspector, Mahesh who produced the accused before the media at Bhakarapet said that acting on a tip-off, the foothills in two mandals were thoroughly searched, leading to the arrests and seizures.
All from Chittoor district
Unlike the regular phenomenon of Tamil Nadu-based woodcutters entering the forests, in this case, all the smuggling operatives hailed from Chandragiri, Yerravaripalem, Vedurukuppam, Rompicharla and K.V. Palle mandals in Chittoor district.
Six among them were identified as forest protection watchers in Talakona beat.
A case was registered and further investigation is on.
“The involvement of forest protection watchers in the red sanders smuggling operations will be probed,” the official said.
Woodcutters nabbed
Meanwhile, the Tirupati wildlife circle personnel on Friday nabbed three red sanders woodcutters from Tamil Nadu, while they were trying to enter into the Seshachalam Hills, at Perumallapalle village on the western side, along with machetes, axes and saw blades, and provisions.
Inquiries made
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) T.V. Subba Reddy rushed to the spot and made inquires regarding the influx of woodcutters into the hills.
