‘Red sanders smugglers part of international racket’

A few days ago, police made a huge haul of 5 tonnes of red sander logs, which were felled in Seshachalam forests in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh and being smuggled into Tamil Nadu, near Katpadi and arrested Amanullah (36) of Karasamangalam near Katpadi and four of his associates.  

According to sources, Amanullah was tailed by members of the Original Crime Intelligence Unit (OCIU) right from the check post on Vellore-Andhra Pradesh border, which led to the recovery and the arrest of five persons involved in red sanders smuggling. Subsequently, five special teams, which were formed on the orders of Vellore SP Pravesh Kumar, during investigations found out that the five arrested were part of international red sanders smuggling racket. 

Following this, the case was handed over to the CB-CID on Tuesday. Earlier in 2015, Amanullah was arrested for the same offence and was lodged in a jail in Andhra Pradesh. Amanullah, who came out a few months ago, returned to the trade allegedly to redeem his house that was pledged by his mother Noor Jahan, to pay for his bail. While the police seized only the logs found in the mini lorry, it was Noor Jahan who tipped the cops about the logs inside their house. It is said that Noor Jahan was miffed with her son’s activities and that was why she informed the police. 

The police are also investigating on how the gang managed to hoodwink the cops of Panamadangi police station on AP Border-Vellore highway and managed to smuggle the logs into Tamil Nadu. Sources revealed that the gang had ferried the logs during the early hours as Panamadangi station officers don’t check vehicles at that time. It may be pointed out that three years back, Thangavelu, a DSP with the Vellore PEW wing then, Thangavelu, was arrested for his involvement in the red sanders smuggling. That case is also being investigated by the CB-CID.