Seshachalam encounter: AP Home Minister rules out human rights violation

Rajahmundry, April 7: Andhra Pradesh deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister N China Rajappa said that a thorough investigation was ordered to find out the circumstances that led to the death of 20 persons in a major encounter between red sanders smugglers and the special task force personnel in Seshachalam forests of Chittoor district on Tuesday morning. Rajappa said, “Based on a tip off over the presence of sandalwood and red sanders 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 and red sanders trees and smuggle them out,” the home minister said.