The Kadapa police, in association with the red sanders taskforce and the Forest Department, have seized 45 red sanders logs worth ₹30 lakh in a joint operation conducted in Kailasagiri area of Chennur forest in the district on Sunday.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (Kadapa) U. Suryanarayana told the media here on Monday that the cops, during their combing operation, had sighted seven woodcutters, including two hailing from Tamil Nadu, who hurled sickles and stones on the cops while trying to flee. Five of them, viz., Shaik Simpati Lal Basha (30), Shaik Simpati Jakir (25), Shaik Simpati Chan Basha (21), all hailing from Chapadu mandal, and Chinnasami Tirupati (33) of Thekkalpatti and Theerthan Palaniswami (48) of Govindakadai village, both in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu, were arrested.

The first three were identified to have fled from the the spot while involved in a similar offence on July 25, when their accomplice Simpati Mohammad Yasin was arrested and booked in a case filed by Proddatur Rural police. Apart from the logs, three SUVs, six cell phones and two sickles were recovered from their possession.