Red Sander smugglers shot dead in Chittoor forests of AP

Twenty red sandalwood smugglers who were allegedly illegal wood cutters were killed in a police encounter on Tuesday morning. The shootout happened at Seshachalam forest near Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

According to a report, stones were hurled at the police. Smugglers armed with sickles and axes attacked the cops. The Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force sleuths opened fire and killed them in a retaliation move.

While two of those killed are said to be international red sander smugglers, most of the others are said to be natives of Tamil Nadu.

The hunt is on to nab more smugglers who are absconding. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has been apprised of the situation.