Rajahmundry: Andhra Pradesh deputy CM and Home Minister N China Rajappa on Tuesday said that a thorough probe was ordered to find out the circumstances leading to the death of 20 persons in a major encounter between the special task force personnel and red sanders in Seshachalam forests of Chittoor district on Tuesday morning.

The deputy CM said, “Based on a tip off over the presence of sandalwood smugglers and labourers felling trees and trying to smuggle them out from Seshachalam forests, special task force personnel swung into action and launched a combing operation. However, they were attacked buy the smugglers with stones. This led to firing by the personnel in which 20 persons were killed while some escaped.”

“I don’t think it involves violation of human rights. Both the smugglers and labourers were involved in felling the sandalwood trees and smuggle them out.”