‘Operation Seshachalam’ gets under way

In a bid to keep a strict vigil on smuggling of the precious red sanders logs, a joint force of the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) and Police Department have been deployed in the Seshachalam forests in Tirupati .

Around 600 personnel began a six-day combing operation across the Seshachalam forests, the hotbed for smuggling of red sanders, on Friday morning.

Addressing the uniformed men at the headquarters before they embarked on the operation, RSASTF Head and Inspector General of Police M. Kantha Rao elaborated on the precautions to be taken while traversing through the 'testing' terrains. “It’s important that every personnel has the basic knowledge of the forest operations and the conditions. During the combing, it is imperative that everyone on the team stay vigilant and maintain a constant vigil on smuggling operatives and wild animals. 'Operation Seshachalam' is not only aimed at offering live training to the new recruits but also introduce them to the work done by the task force, alongside the expertise needed to conduct forest operations,” he said.

Mr. Rao spoke on the background of red sanders smuggling, origin of smuggling operatives (esp. Javvadi Hills), trade routes in the country and abroad, entry and exit points in Seshachalam, uses of red sanders and etc.

After a detailed briefing from the concerned officials, the personnel, dressed in camouflaged uniform, were shifted in several teams to various entry points of Seshachalam forests and later to their respective base camps. They will also learn about the strategies, survival techniques and other important skills duiring the operation.