Andhra Police accused of human riots violations after 20 'sandalwood smugglers' are shot dead Tuesday April 07,2015

 

20 woodcutters from TN gunned by A.P. police

The gunning down of 20 alleged red sandalwood smugglers by an Andhra Pradesh special task force team on April 07,2015 Tuesday morning has triggered a political storm, with many blaming the state police for violating human rights. 

Six policemen were also injured in the operation that a patrol team undertook in Seshachalam Hill Ranges in the state’s Chittoor district. 

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O.P. Panneerselvam wrote a strongly-worded letter to his AP counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu demanding a credible and speedy inquiry into the episode and fixing responsibility for possible human rights violations

National Human Rights Commission has also issued a notice to the Andhra Pradesh government seeking a report on the killings. 

NHRC member Justice D. Murugesan observed that the shooting cannot be justified on the grounds of self-defence, since it resulted in the loss of 20 lives.

According to an NHRC statement, notices have been issued to the chief secretary and the DGP of Andhra Pradesh, calling for a report explaining the act of police and forest officials within two weeks. The hearing on the issue will be on April 23 in Hyderabad. 

Political parties including the DMK, BJP, PMK, Congress and CPI have claimed that “poor labourers from Tamil Nadu” were among the victims and have asked the state government to pursue lawful means to check smuggling of red sandalwood. 

Note

The state government had in June 2013 formed a Special Task Force to check the smuggling of red sandalwood. The STF had been carrying out raids on hideouts across Kadapa, Chittoor, Nellore and Kurnool districts to check the rampant felling of red sander trees

The police claimed that the smugglers have a history of attacking forest personnel and policemen

Two forest officials were stoned to death by red sander cutters in Seshachalam forest in December 2013.