Lok Sabha Debates
Issue Regarding Encounter Of Tamil Labourers By The Andhra Pradesh Police. on 29 April, 2015
Sixteenth Loksabha an> title: Issue regarding encounter of Tamil labourers by the Andhra Pradesh Police.
*SHRIMATI R. VANAROJA (THIRUVANNAMALAI) Hon. Deputy Speaker Sir. Vanakkam. It is said that red sander smuggling has been on the rise during the last two years. These red sanders are smuggled from India to South Asian countries including China and sold at Rs. 7 Crore per tonne. Red sandalwood trees are grown in large scale in the southern parts of Eastern Ghats. Especially in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, felling and smuggling of red sandalwood were on the rise during last one year. We believed that Tamil Nadu police and Andhra Pradesh police are together on the job of prevention of felling and smuggling of these red sanders. As an horrifying incident, 20 innocent Tamil labourers were shot dead in an encounter in Andhra Pradesh. Out of these 20 persons, 12 belonged to my Tiruvannamalai parliamentary constituency. Most of the deceased persons were Scheduled Tribes. In that false encounter, not even a police constable of Andhra Pradesh police was injured. It has raised severe doubts in our mind the way in which the bodies of the Tamil labourers were found at the encounter spot. It was like rubbing salt on our wounds. We are deeply pained. These daily wagers had no connection with the smuggling activities. They were killed as criminals. Besides the family members of the deceased, any person who believes in righteous and honest means of life will never support the brutal killing of 20 innocent woodcutters. It is an unfortunate incident. The National Human Rights Commission, Home Ministry of the Union, Hon. High Court of Andhra Pradesh have sought reports from the Andhra Pradesh government. The government of Tamil Nadu has provided a compensation of Rs. 3 lakh and AIADMK Party under the able leadership of Hon. Puratchithalaivi Amma has provided Rs. 2 lakh to each of the families of the deceased. I urge upon the Union government that necessary measures should be in place so as to prevent any such unfortunate incident in future. Thank you.