Andhra Pradesh sandalwood encounter triggers protests in Tamil Nadu
A team of Tamil Nadu revenue, police officials has been sent to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to bring back the bodies of those killed
Chennai/Tirupati: Protests continued in several parts of Tamil Nadu on Wednesday over gunning of 20 people, many of them Tamils, over charges of red sandalwood smuggling in Chitoor district in Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, with political parties and rights groups condemning the incident as a violation of human rights and demanding action.
The state government announced a solatium of Rs3 lakh each to the kin of labourers who were killed on Tuesday in the police action. “The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a solatium of Rs3 lakh to the families of each of those killed yesterday from the chief minister’s Relief Fund," an official statement in Chennai said.
A team of Tamil Nadu revenue and police officials has been sent to Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh to bring back the bodies of those killed.
Meanwhile, speaking to reporters in Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh Revenue officials said they have made all arrangements to ensure that bodies are promptly handed over to the kin of those killed.
Hearse vans of the Tamil Nadu health department have also been sent to Andhra Pradesh to bring back the bodies, the government said.
Andhra Pradesh police’s encounter against alleged red sandalwood smugglers that ended in the killing of 20 men, many from Tamil Nadu, had its impact for the second day in the State.
Bus services to and from Andhra Pradesh were suspended by both the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh State transport corporations with a posse of police personnel deployed in bus stations following stone pelting incidents.
Protest demonstrations continued across the state, with PMK chief Dr S.Ramadoss alleging that “this (encounter) was pre-planned and there was enough evidence to prove this."
“Since the killings are pre-planned, it is not fair for Andhra Pradesh to probe it. The probe should be done by a sitting Supreme Court judge," he said. The issue should also be taken to the notice of President Pranabh Mukherjee, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the “victims’ kin should get justice," he added.
Officials in Hyderabad said the combing operations were continuing Wednesday in Seshachalam hill ranges of Andhra Pradesh to nab “absconding woodcutters and smugglers".
Police said 14 red sanders smugglers in Chittoor have been nabbed since last night and it has seized 3.5 tonnes of the precious wood and five vehicles, all estimated to be worth Rs1 crore.
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