5 arrested while leaving for AP to cut red sanders

Five persons who were allegedly preparing to board a vehicle to go to forests in Andhra Pradesh to cut red sander trees were arrested by the police near Arani on Tuesday.

Based on a tip-off, the Kannamangalam police rushed to Namakkal Malai area near Kattukkanallur village. to nab the offenders.

There they found six persons all set to board a vehicle. On seeing the police, one of them, later identified to be Gundu of Melkuppam, gave a slip.

Police detained the remaining five (Ramesh and Kumar of Nikkini Village and Sekar, Kumaresan and Annadurai of Nippalampattu). Knives and screwdrivers were seized from them.

Police said that they confessed to have assembled to go to forests in Andhra Pradesh for cutting red sanders.

All the five persons were booked under section 399 of the Indian Penal Code and remanded.