Man held for smuggling red sanders in Jolarpet

A 32-year-old man was arrested by the Forest Department for smuggling 10 wooden logs of red sanders, that is estimated around ₹7.5 lakh, at Jolarpet town in Tirupattur on Wednesday.

Forest officials said that the arrested person was identified as V. Dukkan, a tribal from Pudur Nadu village in Jawadhu Hills of Tirupattur district. Initial inquiry revealed that M. Mahendran, District Forest Officer (DFO), Tirupattur, has directed forest officials to intensify surprise checks on illegal smuggling of forest produce and trespassing into RFs.

In coordination with forest officials, local police were also conducting surprise checks in the district. A special team of Jolarpet police noticed a car parked for a long time on Jolarpet - Tirupattur Main Road. The police team conducted an inquiry with the car driver and suspect Dukkan.

Police also checked the vehicle and found wooden logs of red sanders. They informed the forest team led by K.R. Cholarajan, forest range officer (Tirupattur). Mr. Cholarajan confirmed to the police that the seized wooden logs are red sanders.

Subsequently, Dukkan told police that he brought red sanders from a dealer in Chittoor to a client, S. Praveen in Jamunamarathur village atop Jawadhu Hills in Tiruvannamalai. Forest officials seized a car and wooden logs from him. A case was registered. The arrested person was lodged at sub-jail in Tirupattur town. Special teams have been formed to nab the client Praveen.

As per norms, the seized red sanders were sent to the government timber unit in Tirupattur to make incense sticks. A probe is under way.