Students too take up red sanders smuggling

In the continuing combing operations for red sanders smugglers in the Seshachalam forests in Chittoor district, 19 people were arrested on Wednesday. The arrested included three students from Tirupati and a traffic constable from the neighbouring Vellore in Tamil Nadu. Tirupati urban Superintendent of Police Gopinath Jetty said the students in particular were destroying the red sanders wealth of the State by roaming the forests in police uniforms. The Vellore constable was helping out the smugglers in transporting red sanders. In all, 42 people have been arrested in the last 2 months of intensive combing in the Seshachalam forests. The police have been able to seize 10 quality red sanders logs and two vehicles being used to transport the precious wood. A case would be booked and the smugglers presented before the Tirupati magistrate tomorrow.