Naidu assures TN CM of speedy probe

TN counterpart demands action against the culprits

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has assured his Tamil Nadu counterpart O Panneerselvam that probe into the Chittoor incident, in which 20 people were shot dead in an alleged operation against red sanders smugglers, would be completed speedily.

In reply to Panneerselvam, who had expressed concern over the April 7 incident, Naidu said in a letter that to ascertain the facts, apart from ordering autopsies of the bodies, the AP government had ordered a magisterial enquiry. "I assure you that the enquiry will be completed without delay and further necessary action will be taken," he said.

In the operation conducted on the morning of April 7 by Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force of AP police in the Srivarimettu and Eesagunda areas in Seshachalam forest, 20 people were shot and killed on the spot. All of them hailed from neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Panneerselvam shot off a letter to Naidu immediately after the incident, demanding a "credible and speedy enquiry".

"While it is possible that these persons may have been engaged in illegal activities, the occurrence of such high casualties in the operation raises concerns whether the Task Force personnel acted with adequate restraint," he had said. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also said that if there was violation of human rights, action must be taken against the culprits and compensation should be paid to the victims' families.