Red sanders encounter: AP govt says no human rights violation

Hyderabad, April 7: Contrary to the claims that the red sandalwood smugglers killed in the encounter at Chittoor on Tuesday were ordinary workers, the Andhra Pradesh government has ruled out any human rights violation.

The Red Sanders Anti Smuggling Task Force which has been briefing the Andhra Pradesh Home Minister, China Rajappa has said that there was clear evidence that these were smugglers felling red sandal wood trees. They had tried to attack the patrol party and this led to the encounter. [Two international red sandalwood smugglers killed in Chittoor encounter]

Probe ordered

Meanwhile the AP government has ordered a probe into the incident. The Home Minister China Rajappa informed that the matter would be probed. We will go into the circumstances that led to the incident, he also said.

Currently the operation is underway and we will wait for a final report from the RSASTF, the Home Minister also informed.

The Home Minister also said that there was no human rights violation in the operation, Both the smugglers and the labour were felling the sandalwood trees and trying to smuggle them out. There was a tip off and this led to action, he also said.

OneIndia News