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Cops suspect 25K Tamil Nadu woodcutters in 3 districts
Smuggling of red sanders logs from Seshachalam forest going unabated in the district despite police and forest officials are taking several measures to end the menace. But, the shortage of staff in the Forest department, lack of proper communication and no weapon and vehicle support making the smuggling of red sanders logs easy.
Kadapa: Smuggling of red sanders logs from Seshachalam forest going unabated in the district despite police and forest officials are taking several measures to end the menace. But, the shortage of staff in the Forest department, lack of proper communication and no weapon and vehicle support making the smuggling of red sanders logs easy.
Especially, woodcutters belonging to ‘Juvvadi Malai’ tribe from Tamil Nadu are actively involved in felling and transporting of red sanders logs. Recently, Proddatur and Mydukur cops arrested 20 woodcutters from Villupuram district. Still then, wood cutters are adopting various methods to continue smuggling of logs.
According to sources, the cops are suspecting about 25,000 wood cutters had migrated from Tamil Nadu and taking shelter in villages close to Seshachalam, Lankamalleswara and Nallamala forests spread over Kadapa, Kurnool and Chittoor districts.
Earlier, the entry route for smugglers and woodcutters into Seshachala forest was to arrive at Mangalam on the outskirts of Tirupati and reach their destination by walking through the dense forest.
With Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) personnel intensifying combing operations between Tirupati and Kadapa, the woodcutters are reaching Tirupati from Chennai by ordinary buses via Naidupet and Sullurpet of Nellore district and Srikalahasti of Chittoor district in the guise of devotees.
Later, they board passenger trains running between Tirupati and Guntakal. After reaching Guntakal, woodcutters are reaching Jammalamadugu, Yerraguntla, Mydukur and Kamalapuram by private vehicles.
To escape police watch, woodcutters are staying in temples, ashrams and other places in the guise of devotees and house construction labourers. After some days, they enter the forest and fell red sanders trees and smuggle logs.
Even, the cases and imprisonment by AP police is not deterring Juvvadi tribes from smuggling of red sanders logs as Tamil Nadu government is providing them employment.
By M Srinivasa Rao
