It was a miraculous escape for sleuths of the Red Sanders Anti Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF), who were reportedly shocked to find a country-made gun pointed at them in the thick of the night in the deep forest. A timely yell averted what could have resulted in an exchange of fire and finally, an accident.
The incident happened around 3.30 a.m. on Friday, when the personnel were returning after nabbing a woodcutter Amavasai, hailing from Tiruvannamalai district of Tamil Nadu. As they reached Sachinodibanda point in Chamala range of Seshachalam forest, located north of the Tirupati-Pileru national highway, a band of five hunters armed with country-made guns, who had sneaked into the forest to hunt down wild animals, took the movement of the sleuths for some boars or deer and took aim. When they switched on their torch light for confirmation, the guards sensed trouble and shouted at them not to shoot.
The panicked hunters threw their weapons and started fleeing, when they were chased and caught.
The sleuths seized the weapons and also recovered the carcass of a porcupine and the meat of a wild deer from their possession. The hunters were identified as Nagaraju (45) of Kotala village and Rajesh (23), hailing from nearby Ithepalle village, both in Chandragiri mandal.
They were found to be regular offenders, entering frequently into the forest for hunting wild animals and selling them at nearby places. Three others escaped from the spot.
Inspector General of Police (Taskforce) M. Kantha Rao reached the spot and probed the purpose and frequency of their visit into the woods.
