32 Tamilians arrested on suspicion of attempting to cut red sanders, Amma arranges for release
29 of them are from Thiruvannamalai and two are from Vellore districts. Andhra Police say, they got information from a broker, consequently they made arrests.
In Short
- 32 Tamil Nadu citizens have been arrested by Andhra Police.
- Arrests have been made on suspicion of attempt of cutting red sanders.
- Jayalalithaa has appointed two lawyers for their release.
Around 32 Tamil citizens who were on their way to Tirupathi were arrested at Renigunta railway station by Andhra Police on suspects of attempting to cut red sander on Thursday night.
29 of them are from Thiruvannamalai and two are from Vellore districts. Andhra Police say, they got information from a broker, consequently they made arrests.
OLD PENDING CHARGES
They claim that many of the arrested have charges pending on their name for allegedly cutting and smuggling red sanders. They were booked under new Aditi Poaching and Smuggling laws which are non-bailable.
TAMIL NADU CM REACHES OUT
Meanwhile Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to Andhra CM Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday seeking his intervention on the matter. She further deputed two advocates to work on their release.
Jayalalithaa claimed that the 32 arrested were only passengers on a train and were arrested on the suspicion of alleged red sanders cutting and smuggling.
OLD MATTERS, NEW CASES
The matter has raised a storm in Tamil Nadu as only last year 20 Tamilians were shot dead inside Chittoor forest in an encounter by STF naming them as red sanders smugglers.