Tamil Nadu fumes, but Amma silent - Times of India

The mass killing of 20 Tamil Nadu tribals in Seshachalam forests in Andhra Pradesh by a special task force has triggered a war of words between leaders of the two states. But AIADMK matriarch J Jayalalithaa is the only politician with heft who has chosen to remain silent. Most political parties including BJP, Congress and DMK in Tamil Nadu condemned the killings and called the encounter theory of AP police a bluff. However, Andhra Pradesh forest minister B Gopalakrishna Reddy said all those killed in the encounter were smugglers and not labourers. "Why would labourers come to Seshachalam forests in the night, all the way from Tamil Nadu, if they did not have doubtful intentions? Have they come here to cut grass?" he wondered. AP home minister N Chinna Rajappa claimed his state police had no idea about the identity of the smugglers till the operation was over.

Condemning the massacre, DMK treasurer M K Stalin said it was a clear case of violation of human rights. He raised doubts about the encounter theory and said it looked like it was stage-managed. He also condemned Tamil Nadu government for not acting when reports about Tamils venturing into AP forests came to its notice. "The murders should be probed by a sitting judge," Stalin said in a Facebook post.

PMK, has decided to move Supreme Court to seek a probe by a sitting SC judge or by CBI. PMK leader Anbumani Ramadoss, in a statement said, "We will send a factfinding team to investigate the massacre. The party will approach the Supreme Court with the report". He decried TN government's muted reaction to the massacre.

In a separate statement, PMK founder S Ramadoss demanded the arrest of AP DIG M Kantha Rao and other police officials involved in the episode.

Recalling the attack on labourers from Bihar in Mumbai, he said Bihar government made it a national issue.On the contrary, Tamil Nadu government was pleading with AP government for a thorough probe, he said.

Ramadoss charged that many political leaders were involved in smuggling of red sanders and poor labourers from Tamil Nadu were massacred to protect the identity of the real kingpins.

AP stops services, but TN buses ply

B us services between Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh remained partially affected on Wednesday, a day after 20 red sanders smugglers were shot dead in Seshachalam forests near Tirupati in Andhra Pradesh while they were allegedly trying to smuggle the contraband. Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC), which operates 170 buses between the two states, suspended all services to Tamil Nadu for the second day on Wednesday fearing attacks from protesters. The corporation operates services from Hyderabad, Visakhapa tnam and Vijayawada to Chennai, Kancheepuram, Vellore and Krishna giri. "Our buses plied till Tuesday only when attacks started. We will evening. We stopped service only when attacks started. We will resume service only after getting clearance from the state government," said regional manager for APSRTC in Tirupati, G Maheswara.

http://ift.tt/WZmEdY forests,J Jayalalithaa,Andhra Pradesh,AIADMK

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