TIRUPATI: Red Sanders smugglers reportedly killed an Armed Reserve constable, by mowing him down with their vehicle, when he tried to stop them. The incident took place at Gundravaripalli cross in KV Palle mandal of Annamayya district in the early hours of Tuesday. The deceased was identified as Ganesh (30).
According to RSASTF SP P Srinivas, a team led by RSI Viswanath conducted vehicular checks at KV Palle-Sundupalle forest. At around 3 am, the team tried to stop a speeding car bearing Karnataka registration and carrying red sanders logs. However, the car swerved to the right to escape and hit Ganesh, injuring him critically. The constable was rushed to Pileru government hospital, where he breathed his last. The Task Force personnel managed to apprehend two smugglers hailing from Tamil Nadu, however, the third individual evaded capture and disappeared into the woods.
Subsequently, the task force seized the vehicle and confiscated seven red sanders logs valued at approximately Rs 40 lakh.
Ganesh was a 2013 batch AR constable and was recently deputed to RSASTF. A native of Puttaparthi village in Sathya Sai district, Ganesh was survived by wife Anusha and two children.
Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy expressed his condolences and announced an ex-gratia of Rs 30 lakh for Ganesh’s family.
Meanwhile, TDP Pileru spokesperson Nallari Kishore Kumar Reddy raised concerns over death of the constable. He criticised the government for disarming the task force combating smuggling and questioned the government’s commitment in nabbing those responsible for Ganesh’s death.