16 red sanders logs worth ₹30 lakhs seized in Chittoor, 8 held
The police seized 16 red sanders logs weighing half a tonne, valued at Rs. 30 lakhs, and two vehicles worth Rs. 10 lakhs on Monday
By Newsmeter Network Published on 29 May 2023 3:19 PM IST
Chittoor: The Chittoor district police arrested an eight-member interstate gang involved in red sanders smuggling. The police seized 16 red sanders logs weighing half a tonne, valued at Rs. 30 lakhs, and two vehicles worth Rs. 10 lakhs on Monday.
On receiving a tipoff that red sanders logs were being illegally transported from Tirupati Seshachalam forest, Bangarupalya police inspector P. Narasimha Reddy and his team kept vigil on Chittoor–Palamaner road at Mahasamudram toll gate.
While the police were checking vehicles at the toll gate, the police teams grew suspicious of two cars heading in the direction of Bengaluru. On searching the vehicles, the police found 16 red sanders logs.
The primary accused has been identified as Imran from Kattigenahalli in Karnataka. While he is on the run, the district police managed to apprehend eight persons from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
The arrested persons are Abdul Rahiman (26), K. Mahendran (35), R. Kaliyappan (42), P. Mahadevan (36), G. Sivan (45), R. Chinna Thambi (62), M. Shiva Shankar (30), and K. Ravi (36).
“Five more accused from Tamil Nadu — Venkatesh, Sundaramurthy, Wasim, Vedi, and Durai — are on the run. The police are on the hunt for them,” said Mr. Narasimha Reddy.
