Andhra CM chairs emergency meeting after shootout

Hyderabad, April 7: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu on Tuesday chaired a high-level emergency meeting after 20 red sandalwood smugglers were gunned down by police in Seshachalam forests in Chittoor district.

Naidu reviewed the situation with ministers and officials to enquire about the details of the shootout.

He directed Director General of Police (DGP) J.V. Ramudu to handover the bodies of the smugglers to their respective families after a post mortem examination is conducted. He also asked the officials to publish the photographs of the dead in order to get in touch with their families, said a statement from the chief minister's office.

Naidu also reviewed the existing patrolling measures by the forest department to curb the smuggling of red sandalwood from the state.

Chief Secretary I.Y.R. Krishna Rao, Ministers Acchan Naidu, Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, P. Narayana and police chief attended the meeting.

IANS