Chittoor encounter fallout: Bus services to TN affected

Hyderabad, Apr 8: Andhra-Tamil Nadu buses have taken a hit following protests in Tamil Nadu over gunning down of 20 people in a police operation against Red Sanders smugglers in Chittoor.

"Since last night our buses are not operating to Chennai and other places of Tamil Nadu. Similarly, APSRTC buses plying from Chennai and other places to our state have also not been operating in view of the tense situation," Andhra Pradesh Road Transport Corporation's Tirupati Regional Manager G Maheshwara said.

As many as 150 bus services, mostly from Chittoor have been stopped and discussions are on with Tamil Nadu police for restoring them, the APSRTC official told PTI.

The APSRTC bus services were disrupted due to stone pelting incidents in Tamil Nadu yesterday. However, government and private buses belonging to Tamil Nadu are plying, he said.

"There have been incidents of attack on APSRTC buses and 40 buses belonging to various depots of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana have been stopped in Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus (CMBT) Chennai since last evening," APSRTC's Nellore Regional Manager Chandrasekhar said.

"Till the Tamil Nadu Police is not allowing the APSRTC bus services to ply they will remain suspended," he said.

As many as 20 people were gunned down yesterday in Chittoor district in a police operation said to be against Red Sanders smugglers that came under severe attack from the government and political parties in neighbouring Tamil Nadu, which claimed 12 victims were labourers from their state.

However, AP Police had claimed that the task force and forest personnel during a joint combing operation spotted over 200 red sanders woodcutters involved in felling trees and they were asked to surrender.

However, they attacked the police and forest personnel, injuring six policemen. In retaliation, when police fired in "self-defence," 20 of the smugglers were killed and many others fled the scene.

PTI