‘Heritage Company Vehicle’ Caught Smuggling Red Sanders

Tirupati: A four-wheeler allegedly belonging to Heritage company was seized for illegally transporting red sander logs worth Rs 1 crore at Karkambadi Road near Seshachalam Reserve forest in Tirupati.

The incident occurred during Monday midnight when unidentified red sander smugglers were transporting red sanders. The smugglers pelted stones at the task force police and escaped from the scene by abandoning the vehicle. The police also fired two rounds at them.

Total of 71 logs of red sanders were recovered along with the vehicle. The miscreants attempted to smuggle the forest wealth with the help of the four-wheeler vehicle which was registered in Tamil Nadu, bearing number — TN18 M8996. However, the offenders also carried the registration number from Andhra Pradesh — AP26TC 4187.

The police are trying to identify the owner of the vehicle. The engine number and chasis number are also tampered with, the police said.