Red sanders encounters becomes inter-state row

Tension prevailed in border districts of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in the back drop of encounter killing of red sander collies by terming them as smugglers by the Andhra Pradesh police.

Agitators including political parties and civil liberty activists burnt effigy of Chandrababu Naidu and mobs tried to stage dharna and attack the AP and Telugu institutions at T Nagar.

Meanwhile, the bodies of 20 persons killed in Seshachalam encounter were handed over to their relatives in the presence of Tamil Nadu government officials. The bodies were moved in ambulances and other vehicles late last night.

APSRTC has stopped its bus services to Tamil Nadu since last 3 days. At Tuticorin, anti socials threw bombs at Andhra Bank branch. Nellore district official has advised fishermen to not venture out to fishing in Pulicat Lake till further instructions.

Terming the incident a fake encounter, activists demanded that the Andhra Pradesh government register criminal case against the police personnel who were responsible for the killings. They wanted a sum of Rs.10 lakh to be given as compensation to bereaved families and a judicial enquiry to be conducted by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court. The protesters wanted AP political functionaries, who were allegedly involved in the smuggling of Red Sanders, to be arrested.