A short film on the criminal aspects as well as the environmental damage caused by red sanders smuggling, Decide Yourself, produced by Chittoor Superintendent of Police Ghattamaneni Srinivas, is currently being screened prior to all shows in as many as 56 theatres in Rayalaseema districts.
The month-long screening will be on till August 24. The film will be screened in theatres in Nellore and Prakasam districts soon.
The SP had conceptualised the film based on feedback from officials of the police and Forest departments as well as the general public, after a national seminar on ‘Red Sanders Smuggling: A Challenge’ held in Chittoor last year. As part of spreading awareness against red sanders smuggling, Mr. Srinivas had also organized ‘Kala Jatas’ across Chittoor district, particularly in villages near Seshachalam hills, the core belt of red sanders smuggling.
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The 3-minute-45 second film, with police personnel playing various roles, was released by Director-General of Police J.V. Ramudu on January 9. Prasad Labs in Hyderabad converted the short film into PXD supportive format for screening in theatres.
Since July 2014, Chittoor police have arrested as many as 1,099 persons who were involved in red sanders smuggling, besides seizing logs worth more than Rs. 100 crore. Meanwhile, PD Act was slapped on 42 smugglers.
The film is based on feedback from police and forest officials
It will be screened in Nellore and Prakasam districts soon