20 Shot Dead in AP Forests, Strong Protests by Tamil Nadu
CHITTOOR: This morning’s shooting in Andhra Pradesh of 20 alleged sandalwood smugglers, threatens to create a political crisis with neighbour Tamil Nadu.
Many of those shot dead in the thick forests in Chittoor in Southern Andhra Pradesh were reportedly from across the border, prompting a strong backlash. “While police have every right to arrest and prosecute offenders, shooting them dead like birds is unacceptable,” said Vaiko, the chief of the MDMK party in Tamil Nadu.
Deputy Inspector General M Kantha Rao said his officers had opened fire “in self-defence” after they were attacked in the thick forests with stones, axes and knives.
A tonne of the rare red sandalwood or red sanders, as it is known, can fetch nearly two crores for the finest Grade A quality in the international market. It has been declared an endangered tree.
A tough plan to combat the smuggling of red sandalwood was a major campaign promise of Chandrababu Naidu ahead of last year’s election, which he won. He then formed a special task force, which has been given plenty of modern weapons and resources, to fight the red sandalwood mafia.
