Andhra Pradesh encounter: Jayalalithaa expresses doubts; urges CM to undertake probe

Expressing grief over the gunning down of 20 alleged red sanders smugglers in Andhra Pradesh, AIADMK General Secretary Jayalalithaa on Thursday expressed doubts over the encounter and urged AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to initiate action based on a fact-finding probe.

"After the points raised by media and social activists besides publishing of photographs, there are fears whether the action by the Andhra Pradesh police is correct," she said.

The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said that it was 'doubtful' whether the authorities had used 'require power' against the alleged smugglers even if it was assumed that they were involved in illegal smuggling activity.

"I request the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister (Chandrababu Naidu) to hold a probe to establish facts and initiate action based on that," she said in a statement.

Further, she announced a relief of Rs two lakh each to the next of kin of those killed in the encounter on behalf of her party, adding that state Ministers, MPs and MLAs of the respective districts will hand over the same to the families in person.