Task force outwits red sanders smugglers

RSASTF chief Kantha Rao says combing exit points resulted in seizure of 63 red sanders logs in a tipper

Tirupati: In a major achievement, Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTS) on Thursday seized a tipper along with two tonnes of red sanders which was ready to be sent to Tamil Nadu, near Kongaravaripalle village in Chandragiri mandal. In a meticulously planned move, the RSASTS and forest personnel acting on a tip-off kept a close watch at all the important exit points located in between Tirupati and Rangampeta resulting in the prized catch in the early hours on Thursday.

However, the driver and another crew member in the vehicle which was coming from Villupuram in Tamil Nadu managed to escape, leaving behind the vehicle and 63 red sanders logs in it.The Task force which had completed a year-long operations, was able to identify all the exit points which are nothing but the loading points for the smugglers, that are located in the three main routes including Tirupati-Kodur and Tirupati-Rangampeta.

The exit points are the place where the smugglers keep their vehicle in secluded areas in an invisible manner, to load the red sanders brought from the deep forest of Seshchalam.Talking to The Hans India RSASTS chief M Kantha Rao said the forces along with forest and local police have been actively involved in combing operations in the areas between Tirupati and Rangampeta covering all the exit points for the past one week, leading of series of recovery of red sanders including the one recovered today (Thursday) which is biggest.

The verification of papers and other evidences recovered from the tipper revealed that the vehicle engaged by smuggler was actually meant for transport of materials in Villupuram in Tamil Nadu. Instead of the usual route, the vehicle travelled to Bengaluru from where it entered Chittoor district at Palamaneru before reaching Kongaravaripalli in an attempt to avoid the attention of police and forest officials, he explained.