Hyderabad: A day after 20 woodcutters died in apparent counter-firing by police, the Telugu Desam government on Wednesday came out strongly in support of state police claiming the firing was in self-defence.
Forest minister Bojjala Gopalakrishna Reddy said those who had died could not be considered “ordinary labourers” as they knew what work they had been hired for.
“Mobile phones have been seized from their possession. The seizure has helped police determine who they were in touch with. We are also looking into roles of political leaders and other prominent personalities involved in red sanders smuggling,” he said.
“We have been informed that the labourers, hired to cut red sander trees, were paid a premium and that they were aware that what they were doing was against the law. The police opened fire in self defence,” Mr Reddy added.
Meanwhile, Dr Parakala Prabhakar, advisor (communications) to the AP government, said the police personnel were forced to open fire as they found themselves “heavily outnumbered”.
Dr Prabhakar said a “small” combing party of 10-15 personnel were surrounded by over 200 smugglers who were “moving menacingly” towards them.
