Sleuths of the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) arrested two woodcutters of Tamil Nadu at Perumallapalli village on the outskirts of Tirupati early on Thursday.
As part of the routine combing initiated in Seshachalam Hills late on Wednesday, the guards came across fresh footprints near the tourism area, 8 km from Srivarimettu. The members divided themselves into two groups, one moved towards the Tourism Point and the other started following the footprint. The trail led to the foot of the hills, where they identified eight persons walking stealthily carrying redsanders logs. Though the guards pounced upon them, they could catch only one person, while the seven others fled. Meanwhile, the other team intercepted a car that entered the forest and arrested the driver.
The arrested woodcutter was identified as Venkatesh of Jawwadhumalai hills and the driver as Satish Kumar, a resident of Vellore. Seven red sanders logs were seized from their possession.