2 international red sander smugglers held from Haryana, Delhi

Kadapa (AP), Jul 22: Two alleged international red sander smugglers, reportedly having links with Chinese gangs, have been arrested from Haryana and Delhi by a special task force of Kadapa Police, a senior police official said on Wednesday.

The duo was held separately from Gurgaon in Haryana and Delhi recently by a the anti-red sander smuggling task force constituted by Kadapa Superintendent of Police Naveen Gulati to tighten the noose around smugglers.

The accused, identified as Jaipal, 42, and Tinku Sharma, 38, were involved in red sander smuggling since ten years and also have manufacturing units of red sander 'beads and chains' at Gurgaon and in Delhi.

According to Gulati, Jaipal has till now exported about 150 tons of sandalwood worth Rs 60-70 crore in the international market.

He was arrested from Navarangapur village in Gurgaon district of Haryana a week ago and has been brought to Kadapa on transit warrant obtained from the local court. He is also wanted in two cases in Kadapa district, the SP said.

Tinku Sharma alias Pintu residing at Shakarpur in New Delhi, was arrested from Delhi five days ago and brought to Kadapa, where he is wanted in three cases.

Sharma, too, is involved in red sander smuggling since five years, the SP said. Both of them are alleged to have links with the notorious red sander smugglers of Katiganahalli village in Karnataka as well as in Andhra Pradesh, the SP added.

PTI