Red sanders smugglers ram forest patrol vehicle during high-speed chase, four injured

A high-speed chase between forest officials and red sanders smuggling operatives turned violent on the Rompicherla-Pulicharla road at the Chittoor-Annamayya district border in the early hours of Sunday, after the smugglers allegedly rammed their vehicle into a forest patrol vehicle while attempting to break through a blockade.

Acting on information about the movement of a gang carrying red sanders logs, forest officials of the Piler forest range stepped up surveillance and intercepted the vehicle. The officials parked their vehicle across the road to prevent the suspected smugglers from escaping.

However, the operatives allegedly accelerated towards the patrol vehicle and rammed it in an attempt to flee. Two forest beat officers and two suspected smugglers sustained serious injuries in the collision.

The injured forest officials were identified as Prakash and Charan Pratap of the Piler forest range in Annamayya district. The two suspected smugglers also suffered serious injuries. All four were shifted to the SVRR Government Hospital in Tirupati for treatment.

Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan appreciated the forest personnel for their daring chase, which led to the arrest of the two suspected smugglers. He assured that the injured personnel would receive quality medical treatment at the expense of the government.

Mr. Kalyan directed officials to intensify efforts to track down the three other suspects who escaped during the incident and bring them to book.

A case has been registered and further investigation is under way.