PHOTO FEATURE - The wild in Nallamalais
Monday, 23 December 2013
Sunday, 22 December 2013
MOST WANTED Red sanders smugglers are from Kattigenahalli in Bengaluru and Red Hills in Chennai
Udumula Sudhakar Reddy
Top Red Sanders smugglers hailing from Kattigenahalli in Bengaluru
rural and Red Hills of Chennai are wanted by AP police and forest department in
connection with organized racketing of the priced wood. According to police they are
operating with national and international organized criminal links. From Karnataka
interestingly all of them belong to Kattigenahalli in Hoskote Taluk of Bengaluru rural
and efforts of Special Task Force sleuths to nab the top smugglers failed. Kattigenahalli
is notorious for sandalwood thieves and they have now they have put their focus on the
Red Sanders in the State.
Shabuddin 38, Riyza 35, Izaz, Babu alias Malur Babu, Bakshu alias Syed Isaq 65, Nazeer,
Moula, Anju, Muktiar Khan 36 of Kattigenahalli, Ramesh and Prem Kumar are identified as
the wanted top smugglers of Red Sanders.
A senior police official involved in the operations said ,"it is very difficult to visit
Kattigenahalli as there is lot of retaliation and entire village keeps tab on any new
person entering it,"
According to police records Ramanadhan, Bala, L V Mani and Sedi of two families hailing
from Red Hills in Chennai are also on the top of wanted list. A few other known smugglers
hail from Anna Nagar in Chennai.
A top police official involved in anti smuggling operations of red sanders said ,”All
the top smugglers hailing from Karnataka and Tamilnadu are grade-1 or stage-1 smugglers
and those hailing from Andhra Pradesh are second stage or grade two smugglers. Most of
them are arrested by the Special Task Force to prevent smuggling. Reddy Narayana, G Siva
Prasad Naidu of Kadapa, A Penchalaih, Subba Reddy, Rasool, S Jaya Rao of Nellore are
stage 11 operatives and they have been identified and arrested,”
Police confirmed that the labour contractors and wood cutters are all hailing from
erstwhile Veerappan period villagers. Most of the labour contractors hail from
Thirvunnamalai district and Salem district in Tamilnadu. Wood cutters are coming from
Thrivullaur, Vellore, Krishnagiri, Thrivuannamalai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram in Tamilnadu
and villages of Nellore and Chitoor Andhra Pradesh.
“These wood cutters are experts and after death of Veerappan in 2004 they were silent for
few years. For the past five years they are coming to Andhra Pradesh and cutting the Red
Sanders heavily. Several youngsters from the same villages have come into picture,” said
a police official.
Meanwhile cost of Red Sanders have gone up to Rs 60 lakh per tonn in international
market with the police and forest officials cracking whip and tightening the smugglers.
“The value of Red Sanders is Rs 30 lakh per metric tonn in Chennai and Bengaluru but it’s
cost is double in China, Japan and Dubai. This come around Rs 6000 per kg. Each coolie
gets Rs 6000 per ten days whether they cut or not. Due to more restriction and coolie
rate also increased,” said the official.
The wood cutters after cutting the red sanders under the guidance of labour contractors
mostly from Tamilnadu bring them to a road point which will be a kilometer distance. When
the vehicles come they load Red sanders logs into vehicles. A pilot will be ahead of
vehicles with Red Sanders to inform whether there are any police checks. They will hand
over to another smuggler who will take if further. In the second stage for transport
people from AP are involved till they get out of the state borders. When it reaches
Chennai and Bengaluru the smugglers on the top come into picture. Then the role of
organized criminals come into picture who export them to China, Japan and United Arab
Emirates through shipping or air.
Top Red Sanders smugglers hailing from Kattigenahalli in Bengaluru
rural and Red Hills of Chennai are wanted by AP police and forest department in
connection with organized racketing of the priced wood. According to police they are
operating with national and international organized criminal links. From Karnataka
interestingly all of them belong to Kattigenahalli in Hoskote Taluk of Bengaluru rural
and efforts of Special Task Force sleuths to nab the top smugglers failed. Kattigenahalli
is notorious for sandalwood thieves and they have now they have put their focus on the
Red Sanders in the State.
Moula, Anju, Muktiar Khan 36 of Kattigenahalli, Ramesh and Prem Kumar are identified as
the wanted top smugglers of Red Sanders.
A senior police official involved in the operations said ,"it is very difficult to visit
Kattigenahalli as there is lot of retaliation and entire village keeps tab on any new
person entering it,"
According to police records Ramanadhan, Bala, L V Mani and Sedi of two families hailing
from Red Hills in Chennai are also on the top of wanted list. A few other known smugglers
hail from Anna Nagar in Chennai.
A top police official involved in anti smuggling operations of red sanders said ,”All
the top smugglers hailing from Karnataka and Tamilnadu are grade-1 or stage-1 smugglers
and those hailing from Andhra Pradesh are second stage or grade two smugglers. Most of
them are arrested by the Special Task Force to prevent smuggling. Reddy Narayana, G Siva
Prasad Naidu of Kadapa, A Penchalaih, Subba Reddy, Rasool, S Jaya Rao of Nellore are
stage 11 operatives and they have been identified and arrested,”
Police confirmed that the labour contractors and wood cutters are all hailing from
erstwhile Veerappan period villagers. Most of the labour contractors hail from
Thirvunnamalai district and Salem district in Tamilnadu. Wood cutters are coming from
Thrivullaur, Vellore, Krishnagiri, Thrivuannamalai, Kancheepuram, Villupuram in Tamilnadu
and villages of Nellore and Chitoor Andhra Pradesh.
“These wood cutters are experts and after death of Veerappan in 2004 they were silent for
few years. For the past five years they are coming to Andhra Pradesh and cutting the Red
Sanders heavily. Several youngsters from the same villages have come into picture,” said
a police official.
Meanwhile cost of Red Sanders have gone up to Rs 60 lakh per tonn in international
market with the police and forest officials cracking whip and tightening the smugglers.
“The value of Red Sanders is Rs 30 lakh per metric tonn in Chennai and Bengaluru but it’s
cost is double in China, Japan and Dubai. This come around Rs 6000 per kg. Each coolie
gets Rs 6000 per ten days whether they cut or not. Due to more restriction and coolie
rate also increased,” said the official.
The wood cutters after cutting the red sanders under the guidance of labour contractors
mostly from Tamilnadu bring them to a road point which will be a kilometer distance. When
the vehicles come they load Red sanders logs into vehicles. A pilot will be ahead of
vehicles with Red Sanders to inform whether there are any police checks. They will hand
over to another smuggler who will take if further. In the second stage for transport
people from AP are involved till they get out of the state borders. When it reaches
Chennai and Bengaluru the smugglers on the top come into picture. Then the role of
organized criminals come into picture who export them to China, Japan and United Arab
Emirates through shipping or air.
AP Foresters want US made weapons to counter Red Sanders smugglers
U Sudhakar Reddy
After Tirupati incident of murder of foresters the forest department
now wants to fasten the process of US made weapons procurement and says in three months
they will be armed.
Forest department has issued orders on Friday for purchase of 250
Smooth Bore Breach Loading (SBBL) guns and 20,000 rounds of ammunition for the personnel
of Forest Beat Officers and Forest Section Officers to fight Red Sanders smugglers.
Orders were given for buying 125 .32 revolvers with 7500 rounds of ammunition including
65 revolvers for Forest Range Officers in Red Sanders areas and Flying Squad parties. The
other weapons will be given to staff in problematic areas. The purchases will be made
through State trading corporation.
The Technical Committee that met recently recommended to procure 250 Maverick made SBBL
Guns, .32 revolvers along with ammunition.
However the procurement has to pass several hurdles. Forest department has proposed to
purchase 250 weapons and claim that they have enough money to procure them. Recently a
committee has cleared the procurement however it is no clear that the forest department
procure them by themselves or through State Trading Corporation or through AP Police.
Chief Wild Life Warden Mr. A V Joseph said ,”We have enough money to procure the weapons
and we are hoping the process to be completed in two to three months,”
A senior police official said ,”Forest department has contacted Madhya Pradesh
counterparts who told them that US made are best as they are reliable and local weapons
may not function some time. Forest officials have chosen 12 bore guns for ground level
staff and revolvers for senior offices. The procurement will be delayed from the local
ordnance factory as there is a big waiting list. It is better go opt for US made as it
quick procurement and advantageous. Procurement through State Trading Corporation will be
more useful. Most of the times we do that,”
Forest officials have to get centre’s clearance to procure the weapons from abroad.
Meanwhile wild life activists demand that a separate forest cell should be set up in AP
police department like anti narcotics cell.
Imran Siddique of Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society says ,”there is an urgent need to
arm the front line staff. In police department a separate forest cell headed by DIG
should be formed so that they can take up investigation immediately,
After Tirupati incident of murder of foresters the forest department
now wants to fasten the process of US made weapons procurement and says in three months
they will be armed.
Forest department has issued orders on Friday for purchase of 250
Smooth Bore Breach Loading (SBBL) guns and 20,000 rounds of ammunition for the personnel
of Forest Beat Officers and Forest Section Officers to fight Red Sanders smugglers.
Orders were given for buying 125 .32 revolvers with 7500 rounds of ammunition including
65 revolvers for Forest Range Officers in Red Sanders areas and Flying Squad parties. The
other weapons will be given to staff in problematic areas. The purchases will be made
through State trading corporation.
Guns, .32 revolvers along with ammunition.
However the procurement has to pass several hurdles. Forest department has proposed to
purchase 250 weapons and claim that they have enough money to procure them. Recently a
committee has cleared the procurement however it is no clear that the forest department
procure them by themselves or through State Trading Corporation or through AP Police.
Chief Wild Life Warden Mr. A V Joseph said ,”We have enough money to procure the weapons
and we are hoping the process to be completed in two to three months,”
A senior police official said ,”Forest department has contacted Madhya Pradesh
counterparts who told them that US made are best as they are reliable and local weapons
may not function some time. Forest officials have chosen 12 bore guns for ground level
staff and revolvers for senior offices. The procurement will be delayed from the local
ordnance factory as there is a big waiting list. It is better go opt for US made as it
quick procurement and advantageous. Procurement through State Trading Corporation will be
more useful. Most of the times we do that,”
Forest officials have to get centre’s clearance to procure the weapons from abroad.
Meanwhile wild life activists demand that a separate forest cell should be set up in AP
police department like anti narcotics cell.
Imran Siddique of Hyderabad Tiger Conservation Society says ,”there is an urgent need to
arm the front line staff. In police department a separate forest cell headed by DIG
should be formed so that they can take up investigation immediately,
Centre's move to separate greyhounds training and operation not a good option
U Sudhakar Reddy
Centre’s proposal to separate the control over Greyhounds training
centre and Greyhounds operational hubs has raised many an eyebrows among the top police
officials and anti naxal experts who strongly feel that it may backfire in managing
naxals.
Centre has proposed in AP Reorganisation Bill tabled in State Legislative Assembly on
Monday three years Ministry of Home Affairs will maintain and administer the Greyhounds
Regional Training Centre at Premavathipet in Hyderabad. It will be a common training
centre for the successor States and after three years it will become training centre of
Telangana. However Greyhounds units will be under control of successor State police
headed by respective director generals of police.
Centre in the bills said that it would fund anti naxal fight by giving financial
assistance to new operational hubs of elite anti naxal commando force , Greyhounds , in
the two states of Telangana and AP.
The move of Centre to take over the Greyhounds Training Centre in Hyderabad is stir up a
controversy as police feel that it is difficult as both training and operations are
interlinked.
A senior police official said,”Greyhounds training and operations are interlinked. It is
very difficult to segregate operations and training and it may yield negative results,”
According to bill “Centre shall assist the successor State of AP to set up a similar
state-of the-art training centre at such place as the State government order notify. The
Greyhound and OCTOPUS forces of the existing State of Andhra Pradesh shall be distributed
between the successor States after seeking options from the personnel and, each of these
forces..,” . Greyhounds headquarters and officers quarters are situated in Gandipet in
the city. Vishakapatnam has a regional hub of Greyhounds.
Centre’s proposal to separate the control over Greyhounds training
centre and Greyhounds operational hubs has raised many an eyebrows among the top police
officials and anti naxal experts who strongly feel that it may backfire in managing
naxals.
Centre has proposed in AP Reorganisation Bill tabled in State Legislative Assembly on
Monday three years Ministry of Home Affairs will maintain and administer the Greyhounds
Regional Training Centre at Premavathipet in Hyderabad. It will be a common training
centre for the successor States and after three years it will become training centre of
Telangana. However Greyhounds units will be under control of successor State police
headed by respective director generals of police.
Centre in the bills said that it would fund anti naxal fight by giving financial
assistance to new operational hubs of elite anti naxal commando force , Greyhounds , in
the two states of Telangana and AP.
The move of Centre to take over the Greyhounds Training Centre in Hyderabad is stir up a
controversy as police feel that it is difficult as both training and operations are
interlinked.
A senior police official said,”Greyhounds training and operations are interlinked. It is
very difficult to segregate operations and training and it may yield negative results,”
According to bill “Centre shall assist the successor State of AP to set up a similar
state-of the-art training centre at such place as the State government order notify. The
Greyhound and OCTOPUS forces of the existing State of Andhra Pradesh shall be distributed
between the successor States after seeking options from the personnel and, each of these
forces..,” . Greyhounds headquarters and officers quarters are situated in Gandipet in
the city. Vishakapatnam has a regional hub of Greyhounds.
Monday, 16 December 2013
Erring Miners in Andhra get Rs 60 crore penalty waived off by government on 'Sympathy Grounds"
U Sudhakar Reddy
Vigilance and Enforcement penalties on violators including erring
mining license holders were waived off by the government on ‘sympathy grounds’. Vigilance
after a brief study based on record found that Rs 59.65 crores of penalty and Rs 2.23
crore of normal seigniorage fee was waived off at the government level following the
representations made by the violators who are fined for evasion on minor and major
mineral.
Natural Resources wing in the vigilance conduct surprise checks on granite stock yards,
quarry sites, during transports and at the ports from where the minerals are exported.
Surprise checks were also conducted on raw granite blocks, sand reaches, sand quarry
sites and major construction sites.
After searches and raids penalty is levied on the evaders ranging from one to five times
the seigniorage or royalty fee.
“While reviewing the action taken on the evaded seigniorage fee on minor and major
minerals which was detected by V&E officials during past five years it was found that
entire penalty recommended for imposition on the defaulters was totally waived off.” said
the Vigilance report.
In Vijayawada Rs 2.5 crore, in Srikakulam Rs 14 crore, in Hyderabad City and rural Rs10.2
crore, in Vishakapatnam Rs 2.02 crore was waived off.
“The evader knowingly and willfully commits a criminal act of taking of excess of public
property and gets penalty waiver to cause huge loss to state exchequer. It also send out
wrong signal to the other lease holders to escape from any such acts,”
Sources mines department said that it is being rectified after the vigilance report and
no penalties are waived off recently.
Vigilance and Enforcement penalties on violators including erring
mining license holders were waived off by the government on ‘sympathy grounds’. Vigilance
after a brief study based on record found that Rs 59.65 crores of penalty and Rs 2.23
crore of normal seigniorage fee was waived off at the government level following the
representations made by the violators who are fined for evasion on minor and major
mineral.
quarry sites, during transports and at the ports from where the minerals are exported.
Surprise checks were also conducted on raw granite blocks, sand reaches, sand quarry
sites and major construction sites.
After searches and raids penalty is levied on the evaders ranging from one to five times
the seigniorage or royalty fee.
“While reviewing the action taken on the evaded seigniorage fee on minor and major
minerals which was detected by V&E officials during past five years it was found that
entire penalty recommended for imposition on the defaulters was totally waived off.” said
the Vigilance report.
In Vijayawada Rs 2.5 crore, in Srikakulam Rs 14 crore, in Hyderabad City and rural Rs10.2
crore, in Vishakapatnam Rs 2.02 crore was waived off.
“The evader knowingly and willfully commits a criminal act of taking of excess of public
property and gets penalty waiver to cause huge loss to state exchequer. It also send out
wrong signal to the other lease holders to escape from any such acts,”
Sources mines department said that it is being rectified after the vigilance report and
no penalties are waived off recently.
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