Task force opens fire in air in Seshachalam forest 

TIRUPATI: In an encounter on Monday morning, the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) opened fire in the air when Javvadi Mali smugglers pelted stones, knives and axes at them on Seshachalam hill ranges. A case was registered at Bhakarapet police station in this regard. As part of their routine, RSI Bhaskar and his team started combing operation early morning at Srivari Mettu - Bhakarapet forest area. At 5 am, both teams confronted each other.

The task force of six members carried arms, while the smugglers were 15 in number. On seeing the task force, the smugglers hurled stones, axes and knives at them. The task force fired three rounds in the air. The smugglers took that as a warning and fled abandoning the logs. But one Alagesan was caught hold of by the task force. Later, the task force searched around and found 13 red sanders logs, four axes, two knives and some other accessories.

IG M Kantha Rao, DSP Chidananda Reddy, Inspector Madhu Babu, RSI Ashok Kumar and Inspector M Mahesh Kumar of Bhakarapet police station visited the spot. IG Kantha Rao said: “Despite so many seizures every day, the task force does not open fire, but when the situation demands and in order to protect themselves, they can do so.”

PD Act invoked against four smugglers
Kadapa: The Preventive Detention Act was invoked against four notorious red sanders smugglers in the district. The SP said 15 cases were registered against Nandyala Venkataramana, 12 cases against Gurrampati Eshwar Reddy, 11 cases against Boddukuri Adikrishna and 11 cases against Abbireddy Narasimha Reddy for indulging in red sanders smuggling.