The Hindu : Front Page : Smugglers’ links with big operators exposed

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Oct 29, 2007
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Smugglers’ links with big operators exposed

Ravi Reddy

Report by Kadapa SP brings out unknown facts on the smuggling racket

HYDERABAD: Police and forest officials are upbeat following vital leads provided by Maddipatla Reddy Narayana alias Naraprathap, who was arrested for his alleged involvement in the smuggling of red sanders in Rayalaseema, on other gangs and close links with big-time operators in Chennai. Interrogation of Narayana, along with 11 others, has yielded interesting information about the gangs operating in Kadapa and other districts, besides their contacts in Tamil Nadu, particularly Chennai.

Officials’ suspension

The arrest of 38-year-old Narayana, from Battavandlapalli of Sambepalli mandal in Kadapa district, and his confession resulted in the suspension of 21 police officials and 10 Forest Department staff for their alleged ‘nexus’ with smugglers. It also exposed the help extended by politicians. A seven-page report by Kadapa SP Y. Nagi Reddy submitted to the Government has brought out several unknown facts about the red sanders smuggling.

It named L.Venkatrama Raju, Jayashankar, Lakshman, Ramesh, Madi and Kumar (all from Chennai), Alluru Babu of Valasalapalli (Tirupati) and Dhanpal (Chittoor) as big time operators, who purchased the smuggled red sanders.

Nexus cited

Narayana’s gang smuggled 33 loads of red sanders worth Rs. 4.18 crore, of which Rs. 36.30 lakh and Rs. 21.64 lakh, respectively were paid to police and forest staff for their alleged ‘cooperation’.

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