Red sanders en route to China seized in Himachal

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Shimla, Dec 9: Over 15 tonnes of banned red sanders wood was seized from upper Shimla while being smuggled to China, police said here Friday. Three people have been arrested.

The wood is prohibited for export and is listed under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) list.

Inspector General Anurag Garg told IANS the wood was seized from a village near Jeori town in Rampur subdivision, some 135 km from here, Thursday.

In September last year, two trucks transporting 12 tonnes of red sanders wood were seized close to the China border at Kaurik in Lahaul and Spiti district.

Another police officer said the red sanders seized from Jeori were also meant for smuggling to China.

Himachal Pradesh shares a porous border with China and police say smuggling of rare species of fauna, and Chinese goods like blankets and thermos flasks are quite frequent.

In September this year, two truckloads of prized pashmina wool were seized in Kinnaur district. Police officials said the wool was smuggled into India from China.

The red sanders is a rare flora species that is endemic to the southern parts of the country, mainly Andhra Pradesh.

IANS