Among the various tactics adopted to transport red sanders logs, smuggling operatives have, of late, resorted to redesigning vehicles. Besides the regular practice of changing their registration plates, they have now started camouflaging vehicles with logos of several companies to evade detection.
The Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) on Thursday nabbed six persons who had been adopting a similar practice, and seized four vehicles, including two four-wheelers, along with 14 red sanders logs from the forest area abutting a private hotel near Karakambadi.
Multiple charges
RSASTF SP P. Ravishankar told newsmen that among the six operatives, the prime accused was identified as D. Rajasekhar alias Chinna (27), an aide of notorious red sanders smuggler Kollam Gangi Reddy.
“He earlier worked with the then main operative Gundala Mahesh and rose to his place after the latter's death, gaining the trust of Gangi Reddy. He continued smuggling in Kadapa district and moved to Chittoor district to escape the heat. In addition to several cases booked in both the districts, Preventive Detention (PD) Act was also slapped on him,” said Mr. Ravishankar.
Escape
Other accused include Basha alias Baba Saheb, R. Srinivasulu (an RMP hailing from Avilala, Tirupati), Aravind Reddy, Prashant alias Kutti and Murali Krishna. Two others — Bawaji alias Babji and Durga Prasad — escaped during the combing operation.
This comes after the task force officials seized a van, painted with ‘Heritage’ logo, along with a country-made firearm and 14 red sanders logs on July 4. Investigation revealed the vehicle had several registration numbers and the original was traced to Gangamma of Somala mandal in Chittoor district, who died a few years ago.
Change of ownership
Subsequently, the ownership of the vehicle changed from Gangamma's son Mallikarjuna to Nagaraju of Madanapalle and later sold to Basha.
According to RSASTF CI Madhu Babu, the accused used to revamp the look of the vehicles and transport red sanders logs to Red Hills area in Chennai.