Hyderabad:

In a police encounter, nearly 20 red-sandalwood smugglers were killed in Seshachalam forest near Tirupati in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh.

According to reports, police was on a combing operation when heavily armed smugglers attacked with sickles and axes. The police fired in retaliation, killing several of them.

At least 10 security personnel, majorly from Tamil Nadu, were also injured during the combing operation.

On December 4, the police had seized 23 tonnes of red-sandalwood worth Rs 9 crore from both the boats.

More details are awaited.

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