Twenty red sanders logs worth Rs. 1 crore and weighing a tonne were seized and 45 persons arrested by the Tirupati Urban Police, here on Wednesday.
The arrested persons, suspected to be from Tamil Nadu, were caught in the forests adjacent to the Srinivasa Mangapuram – Srivari Mettu road before they could transport the logs from the Seshachalam forests. Others involved in the transportation of the logs fled the spot.
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Based on a tip-off, the raid was jointly conducted by the Deputy Superintendents of Police S.K. Babu (Tirupati West) and Iliyas Basha (Armed Reserve), Circle Inspectors Nagabhushanam (Chandragiri) and Naga Subbana (SV University), Sub-Inspector Thimmayya (Tirupati East) and other staff members.
Superintendent of Police (Tirupati Urban) S.V. Rajasekhar Babu, at a press meet, said that cases had been registered against the accused and the Task Force would conduct further investigation.
Statistics furnished by the police also stated that 22 cases were registered under the Chandragiri Police Station limits this year, 336 people arrested and 681 red sander logs (approx. 22160 kg) seized, along with five vehicles.
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