Red sanders smuggling case: NHRC wants CBI on Andhra Pradesh killings

Hyderabad: In a big blow to the Andhra Pradesh government, the National Human Rights Commission has recommended a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the April 7 encounter in the Seshachalam forests in which 20 woodcutters were killed.

The NHRC observed: “There are good grounds to think that there was serious violation of human rights of the 20 persons who were killed by Special Task Force personnel.”

Read: NHRC cannot order a probe, say legal experts

The AP government has been asked to complete formalities to hand over the case to the CBI to probe the three FIRs of the Chandragiri police station in Chittoor and submit an action taken report to the NHRC in four weeks.

Read: Red sanders smuggling cases go undetected

This move has come as a blow to the AP government and the STF comprising forest and police officials.

The state government has to now write to the Centre to hand over the case to the CBI. Under the law, either the state government can ask the Centre for a CBI probe or the High Court or Supreme Court can directly order a CBI probe.