Killing of Sander Smugglers Row : TN Chief Minister Urges AP Govt. to Undertake Credible Inquiry

07 April, Chennai

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O.Pannerselvam has demanded a credible and speedy inquiry into the operation conducted by Special task force personnel of Andhra Pradesh in which 20 alleged red sander smugglers were killed near Tirupati Tuesday morning.

Sounding a distress on the incident, Pannerselvem said that out of the 20 persons killed in the shooting incident, many had hailed from Tamil Nadu .

Panneerselvam in his letter appealed the Andhra Chief Minister Chandababu Naidu , to provide appropriate compensation to the families of the victims.

All the political parties in the state have expressed strong reactions against the shooting incident . They claimed that at least twelve of those killed today were woodcutters who were reportedly hired for the smuggling activity.

Earlier, in Andhra Pradesh, at least 20 persons involved in alleged smuggling of Red Sanders were killed in an encounter near Tirupati this morning.

State Deputy Chief Minister China Rajappa said the task force of the Andhra Pradesh Special Police carried out the operation on receiving information about the smuggling activity.

He claimed, all of them hailed from Tamil Nadu. Some of the police personnel also sustained injuries during the encounter.