Police open fire at smugglers in Seshachalam forest
TIRUPATI: The dense Pulibonu Bavi forest in Seshachalam region turned a battle zone for a while involving police and red sanders smugglers. While the smugglers rained stones on the policemen, the latter retaliated by opening fire at the attackers.
While some smugglers were reportedly injured in the firing the same could not be confirmed. Similarly, it was not known if any policemen were injured in the stone-throwing by the smugglers.
According to information reaching here, the police party was engaged in combing operations in the forest following the rise in smuggling activities in the recent past when it came across the smugglers near Pulibonu Bavi.
Noticing the policemen, the smugglers rained stones on them and in retaliation, the police opened fire on the attackers. Though a couple of smugglers were reportedly injured in the firing, the remaining smugglers managed to flee taking away the injured along with them.
Tirupati Wildlife DFO Srinivasulu toldthat the combing parties came across a gang of smugglers and a clash ensued between the two groups.
'However, we are not sure whether any of the smugglers suffered injuries as all the smugglers escaped from there immediately after the police opened fire'' , he added.
It may be recalled here that after the dastardly attack on forest officials by smugglers killing two of them last year, the government had given additional police forces to the the forest officials and also permitted the police officials to open fire at the smugglers.
Meanwhile, a police official said that CM-designate of Residuary AP state N Chandrababu Naidu had during his recent visit to Tirupati asked the police to act tough against the red sanders and other smugglers.
'Apart from police staff, we also utilised the services of the Task Force for polls and this helped the smugglers to carry out activities with impuity. But, following the spurt in smuggling, we have intensified the combing operations, '' the official said.
News Posted: 24 May, 2014
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