In a significant crackdown on the illicit trade of red sanders wood, the Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force (RSASTF) arrested nine suspected smugglers and recovered 20 valuable logs from the Srikalahasti forest range in Tirupati district early Wednesday. The operation mirrors the intense struggle over red sanders famously portrayed in the blockbuster film Pushpa, highlighting the real-world persistence of the illegal trade despite strict enforcement measures.

The raid was carried out under the direction of Task Force Head L Subbarayudu and led on the ground by ARSI N Eshwara Reddy, with operational guidance from RI Sai Giridhar. The team conducted an extensive combing operation in the Thirthalapalam Kona area of the Ragigunta section within the dense Srikalahasti forests. Police encountered a group of individuals suspected of smuggling activities, who tried to flee but were apprehended after a successful chase.

Recovered red sanders logs, native only to the Seshachalam forest belt, were seized from the surrounding areas where the suspects had been found. Investigations revealed that the smuggling ring operates across state lines; while two of the arrested are local Tirupati residents, seven others are from neighbouring Tamil Nadu, indicating an interstate network facilitating the lucrative trade.

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All arrested individuals and seized logs were brought to the Tirupati Task Force Police Station, where questioning is ongoing to uncover deeper links and identify the masterminds behind this organized smuggling operation. The police have officially registered a case and vowed to intensify efforts to curb the illegal exploitation of red sanders, a precious timber known for its medicinal and commercial value.

This operation underscores ongoing challenges faced by authorities in protecting endangered natural resources and cracking down on wildlife and forest-related crimes that have ripple effects on ecosystems and local communities.

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