The outskirts of the temple city witnessed an unsuspecting movie-style car chase between smuggling operatives and task force officials in the early hours of Tuesday, leading to the arrest of two and seizure of 11 red sanders logs.
Acting on credible information regarding illegal transportation of red sanders logs, a team of task force officials led by RSI Ashok Kumar were on a stakeout on Renigunta-Srikalahasthi highway. After a few hours into the operation, the officials noticed a four-wheeler moving from the Diguva Mallavaram area and onto the highway. Though, officials followed the vehicle up to the Renigunta circle to uncover the modus operandi, smuggling operatives on noticing a vehicle on their tail began speeding.
Keeping close to the vehicle and to prevent any accident in the pursuit, the officials coordinated with another team led by FSO Nagaraju, to set up a roadblock near Gajulamandyam circle. They along with highway patrol blocked the road on both sides and eventually had the operatives trapped.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the duo, Mani and Ponnuswamy, hailing from Vellore and Jamunamathur of Tamil Nadu, were trying to transport the logs from a loading point in the interiors of Diguva Mallavaram, to an undisclosed location. The vehicle used by the accused was modified with fake registration numbers and their mobile phones were also seized by the officials for investigation.
However, the task force officials had to embark on a second chase, after reaching their head office, as another set of operatives were suspected of transporting red sanders logs on the Tiruchanur road. While two PCs were following the vehicle on a two-wheeler, it had become difficult for them to bring them to a halt. Adopting a similar strategy, another team, along with support from the passers-by, managed to box them at an intersection and this sudden development had the driver and others abandon the vehicle. The officials recovered 60 red sanders logs, which were disguised under a heap of palm leaves and other debris.