Timber smuggler called ‘Telangana’s Veerappan’ arrested after 20 years

Yedla Srinivas alias Srinu, who earned the nickname “Telangana’s Veerappan”, was arrested after police in Peddapalli district’s Ramagundam laid a trap - the first major crackdown on a timber smuggler after the Telangana government took a serious view of rampant tree-felling in the state.

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Officials said that for the past 20 years, Srinu felled trees in reserve forests and was active in teak wood smuggling, devastating vast forest tracts in Mancherial, Manthani and Chennur areas in Telangana.

An elusive timber smuggler, who operated with his gang with impunity in the forests of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Maharashtra and evaded police and the forest department for nearly two decades, has been finally arrested in Telangana.

Yedla Srinivas alias Srinu, who earned the nickname “Telangana’s Veerappan”, was arrested after police in Peddapalli district’s Ramagundam laid a trap – the first major crackdown on a timber smuggler after the Telangana government took a serious view of rampant tree-felling in the state.

A Forest Department official said, “The government took a very serious view of the rampant tree-felling in the state and directed police and forest officials to take stringent action, even if they flaunt political backing.”

“We arrested Yeddla Srinu and two of his main associates, and invoked the Preventive Detention Act ,” Ramagundem Police Commissioner V Satyanarayana said.

With at least 20 cases against him in Telangana alone, Srinu had evaded police and forest officials due to his cunning. For instance, he often hired bullock carts to transport the wood which were often not checked by officials. Srinu also created an environment of fear among farmers and cattlegrazers and shepherds, who would not report tree-felling. Police are still assessing how much money Srinu was able to amass over the years.

“During elections he used to distribute money in the villages on behalf of a candidate or political party he was supporting,’’ Satyanarayana said.

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A forest official said, “. He colluded with several saw mill owners in Telangana and Andhra and used to supply forest teak wood to them.” Police are now booking sawmill owners who were hand-in-glove with Srinu.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More

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