The Khammam Central Crime Station (CCS) police on Sunday arrested two persons allegedly involved in tampering with the Forest Department permits and illegally transporting ‘sandra’ timber to a trader in Madhya Pradesh.
The arrested were identified as Korra Shiva, a timber merchant of Gopa Thanda in Mothey mandal of Suryapet district, and Radhe Shyam of Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh.
The arrests followed a thorough investigation into a complaint earlier lodged by Khammam Forest Department, CCS police said.
According to the police, Shiva allegedly obtained permits for ‘Nalla Tumma’ timber in the name of private individuals and tampered with them to show ‘sandra karra’ timber.
The main accused allegedly felled sandra trees in several areas of Mahabubabad district and sold the timber to Radhe Shyam, who in turn allegedly transported the timber to a trader in Madhya Pradesh’s Jhabua town using forged permits, CCS police added.
Sandra timber is reportedly in high demand in parts of Madhya Pradesh, where ‘kattha’, an extract obtained from the wood, is used as an ingredient in ‘pan masala.’
The accused allegedly transported nearly nine lorry loads of timber to other States illegally. A detailed investigation is underway.
