Red sanders, property worth Rs. 45 lakh seized in Chittoor, 8 arrested

Chittoor: Chittoor police apprehended eight persons involved in illegal transportation of red sanders and seized 28 logs and property worth Rs 45 lakhs during surprise checks conducted across the district on 4 February.

Police also seized two cars, three motorbikes, and Rs. 2 lakhs cash from them. The eight have been identified as K. Gopinath, S. Selva Kumar, D. Velu, and S. Jayashankar, Shaik Mehboob Basha, Venkatesh, C. Puneeth Kumar, and K. Bharath. According to superintendent of police S. Senthil Kumar, acting on a tip-off, Chittoor II Town police and Yadamarri police conducted vehicular checks in their respective jurisdictions.

Chittoor II-Town police conducted checks at Iruvaram crossroads along Chittoor-Palamaneru road. They grew suspicious of two cars and three motorbikes after the drivers tried to evade the checks. Police chased after them and intercepted the vehicles. They seized 10 logs of red sanders and nabbed three smugglers.

In another case, Yadamarri police organised checks at a check-post along Chittoor-Gudiyatham road. When a car tried to get past the check-post the police intercepted the vehicle and seized 18 logs of red sanders. Police also arrested five smugglers.

In the two cases, police seized logs and property worth Rs 45 lakhs.