Furthering the investigation after the arrest of an inter-State red sanders smuggler, Naseemuddin Khan alias Musthu Imran, the Tirupati Urban Police raided a farmhouse in Rampura Doddi area near Ramanagaram district of Karnataka and recovered 39 red sanders logs, weighing nearly 1.123 tonnes, and seized a transport vehicle, in the early hours of Wednesday.
According to Tirupati Urban Superintendent of Police Abhishek Mohanty, the operation followed the arrest of Naseemuddin on October 31. “Police officials during a regular inspection on the Chennai highway near Vadamalapet found Naseemuddin along with his accomplices Dasarathan, Mani and others, reportedly hailing from Nagari of Chittoor district, transporting red sanders logs by a four-wheeler. While the officials managed to nab the duo, others fled from the spot. They managed to seize 15 red sanders logs, weighing 392.2 kg, along with two SUVs,” he added.
The accused were transporting red sanders logs from the forest areas abutting Tarakarama Nagar near Karakambadi of Renigunta mandal.
Further investigation revealed a nexus, which resulted in a special team conducting raids on the farmhouse. The officials said that there were several others linked to smuggling activities, residing in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and cities like Mumbai and Delhi, sand that they would be nabbed soon.