Vehicle scanners and integrated check-posts comprising personnel from different law-enforcing agencies have been proposed to prevent smuggling of red sanders and other contraband along the Andhra Pradesh-Tamil Nadu border.
Chittoor Superintendent of Police G. Srinivas said he had proposed that vehicle scanners at toll gates would be an effective means of curbing smuggling of red sanders as some habitual offenders managed to conceal logs under load of fruits or other permitted consignments. Since agencies such as the police, forest, transport, customs and others were having their own frisking points, it would be more useful to have an integrated check-post along the state border, he told The Hindu over phone.
Mr. Srinivas said investigation in the smuggling of red sanders was progressing well with the police not leaving any stone unturned. Special teams had arrested those involved in felling the trees, transportation of logs, storage and sale of the contraband.
Asked why no official was arrested amid allegations of connivance, he said arrests were made based on specific evidence and police would not spare any person involved in the racket.
Suggesting that an inter-state police force to curb smuggling of red sanders and other contraband along the inter-state border would be an effective method of curbing smuggling, he said the forest areas abutting state borders were porous and joint operations can help in plugging the gaps.
When contacted, a senior official in the Tamil Nadu police said there was no formal proposal yet to set up a Special Task Force or conduct joint operations to curb smuggling of red sanders.
