The Chittoor police have been studying several modules and legal implications related to the move of the State government to attach properties of those involved in the red sanders smuggling activities.
Additional Superintendent of Police (Red Sanders Operations), V. Ratna, told The Hindu that serious discussions had been on for the last several days among the senior officials to ready the procedures to attach properties of the accused in red sanders cases, and to implement the Preventive Detention Act (PD Act) with letter and spirit.
“As of now, Chittoor police has booked 25 persons in red sanders cases under the PD Act. While the AP High Court has dismissed two cases recently, four accused have been granted bail owing to technical reasons, and 19 others are under detention at present. We are careful in using this act only against the accused in organised crimes, maintaining gangs, inter-State and overseas smuggling activities,” she said.
As most of the smugglers at higher level are operating from either Chennai or Bangalore, the cases need thorough investigation.
The smuggling is being done in five to six phases. So more police teams are being constituted to take on the culprits and save red sanders species in Seshachalam region, Ms. Ratna said.
The Chittoor police also took the lead in planning inter-State and inter-district meetings involving higher officials of the department with its forest counterparts.
Tri-State meeting“A tri-State meeting is likely to be held in January next year, she added.
