Rs 1crore worth of red sanders logs seized

TIRUPATI: Forest staff arrested four red sandalwood smugglers and a forest beat officer who joined hands with the smugglers, and seized 141 logs weighing about 4 tonnes and are worth about Rs 1 crore. A lorry used in illegal transport of the wood has also been seized. Acting on a tip-off, that a large quantity of red sanders logs was kept for transportation in the Mamandur forest area, Tirupati Wild Life DFO T Chakrapani sent a team of 15 personnel to raid the place. The team made the seizure and the arrests in the wee hours of Saturday.What came as a surprise was that Doraswamy, one of the forest personnel discharging duties as forest beat officer in that area, was also nabbed for helping the smugglers.According to the DFO, the smugglers revealed Doraswamy’s complicity and said he extended help to them after being promised a large amount of money once the vehicle passed the check-post. The officer admitted to his role in the smuggling activity.“As of now, we sent Doraswamy to custody along with others and he will be suspended from duties following an enquiry,’’ he added.KADAPA: Forest officials conducted raids in the Kodur forest area and arrested 22 red sanders wood cutters and seized 33 logs in two incidents.Kodur range officer Ramanaik and his staff arrested as many as 12 wood cutters in the Y Kota beat area and seized 12 logs. All the 12 arrested hail from different villages in Rudravaram mandal and Kurnool district.In another incident, Balupalle range officer Venkata Subbaih and his men nabbed 10 workers and seized 11 logs from them. All the workers are from Allagadd mandal in Kurnool district.