Task Force intensifies combing operations in Seshachalam forests; seizes 26 RS logs

TIRUPATI: Following the seizure of 26 red sanders logs at two different locations in Seshachalam forests on Friday, the AP Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) intensified its combing operations to nab the woodcutters and smugglers who fled deep into the forests after sighting the task force sleuths.

In a bid to curtail the smuggling of precious red sanders from the Seshachalam forests, RSASTF superintendent of police M. Sundara Rao ordered for deployment of teams to comb the forest areas spread across Tirupati and Kadapa districts. Two teams, under the supervision of DSP Muralidhar and led by RI Suresh Kumar, have started combing operations at two different locations in Tirupati and Kadapa districts on Thursday night.

The first team was combing the forest near Machala Bhavi area in Chandragiri mandal in the early hours of Friday when they encountered a group of smugglers carrying logs out of the forest. When the team advanced to catch the smugglers, they fled from the spot by leaving behind the 14 logs. The second team seized 12 logs in Kangi Madugu range of Gurugu Thanda forest area in Railway Kodur mandal.

In both the operations, the task force teams failed to catch the smugglers who left the logs behind and fled deep into the forest as soon as they sighted the teams.

DSP Muralidhar said the task force has deployed teams to comb the forest areas and teams are trying to trace the location of the smugglers by tracking cellphone signals.