Two red sandalwood smugglers arrested from Renigunta forest

Tirupati:In a significant action, the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) police arrested two smugglers involved in cutting Red Sanders trees and processing them into logs in Mamandur forest area of Renigunta mandal in Tirupati district. Three Red Sanders logs were seized in the operation.
Under special instructions from Tirupati district SP L Subba Rayudu and task force led by SP P Srinivas, DSPs G Balireddy, V Srinivas Reddy and MD Farooq carried out the operation. On Saturday evening, the team of RSI Suresh Kumar Reddy along with RSI Y Vishwanath conducted a search operation in Mamandur forest area in coordination with local forest staff.
The team was patrolling in Gokudu Banda area in Mamandur North forest beat of Tirupati forest division when they heard the sound of trees being cut. On reaching the site, they found people cutting down red sanders trees and shaping them into logs. When the police tried to catch them, the smugglers tried to escape.
However, the task force personnel managed to arrest two persons, who were later identified as residents of Tamil Nadu. Along with the arrests, three Red Sanders logs were seized and taken to Tirupati Task Force police station. Task Force SI Rafi has registered the case and started investigation. Efforts are on to nab others who managed to escape.