Redwood mafias have free run

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Redwood-Mafia-have-Free-Run/2015/08/20/article2983600.ece

Red sander smugglers have a free run

J Shanmugha Sundaram

Vellore: Red sander mafias have a free run in Vellore district, which is a transit point of the smuggling of the precious woods, after the law enforcing agencies have lost it track to check the illegal activities. The disbandment of the special team led by Inspector C Martin Premraj, which constituted to curtail the smuggling of the logs in one of the prime route, favoured the mafias. The team was disbanded after

Though the police officials admitted that not less than six to seven tonnes of red sander logs worth around Rs 10 crore`in international market smuggled through Vellore to Chennai and Bangaluru, it is surprising that not a single seizure reported for over two months now.

The last seizure was on June 14 when a team of police personnel seized 1.5 tonnes of logs near Thottalam near Madhanur. The logs had ferried from Andhra Pradesh via Thottalam, one of the prime smuggling routes to Bangalore. “More than 15 groups (with over 40 members) of smugglers are operating on a daily basis,” said

The smugglers enter into the district from Paratharami route (Latheri – Sethuvalai – National Highway (NH) – Anaicut and Chennai via NH), Ponnai route (Thakkolam – Sungavachathiram (Thiruvallur) and Chennai) Ponnai route – II (Sholinghur – Thakkolam – Balachettipuram – NH and Chennai).  Pernambut route (Tirupathi – Pernambut- Gudiyattam – Thottalam or Mathanur – Anaicut and Malur in Bangalore via NH). Most of the smuggled logs ferried to the godowns of the kingpins operating from Malur in Bangalore city and Red Hills and Kasimedu in Chennai.

“At least 20 loads of red sander logs weighing between 300 kg and 2 tonnes are smuggled in sports utility vehicles, sedan cars and mini vans per day,” said a police official. For smuggling half a tonne of logs to Chennai, the smugglers pay around Rs 80,000 to the driver and the vehicle owner. Such is the stake in this illegal business.

It is obvious that many police officials and politicians are hand-in-glove with the timber mafias to make quick money. The arrest of former DSP K Thangavel in connection with red sander smuggling case has lent credence to the claims. “This unholy alliance helps the mafias to spread its tentacles and carry out their business without any hiccups,” said a police official, who was part of a special team that constituted to crack down the red sander mafias.

Despite receiving information about smuggling of logs, many police officials failed to act. “The police officials are making huge amount as bribe,” said the police source.

Superintendent of Police P K Senthil  Kumari said that the department continues its surveillance to prevent smuggling of logs and the AP police have also stepped up security along the border areas to check the illegal activities. “Though one of the special teams disbanded, there is still a seven member team. They are working to nab the smugglers,” she further said./eom/shan/