Indian police officers kill 20 illegal loggers over sandalwood exports

At least 20 people were killed when police opened fire yesterday on loggers who attacked them with axes and stones in an area of southern India known for sandalwood smuggling.

Deputy Inspector General M Kantha Rao said his officers had opened fire "in self-defence" after challenging a group of over 100 suspected smugglers in a remote forest. A local forestry department official said that the loggers attacked officers from a newly formed anti-smuggling task force who were searching the forest.

"Our police party warned them to hand over the logs," Rao said. "They were accompanied by forest officials as well. But the smugglers refused to hand over the logs.

"Ultimately in self-defence the police opened fire on the smugglers and found nine bodies in one position, and 11 bodies in another," he said.

Rao, who heads the task force set up to combat the smuggling of sandalwood, said six or seven police officers had been wounded during the clash.

He said his officers had come under attack in the past from loggers in the forests of Chittoor, which is around 480km north of the state capital Hyderabad and is known for its red sandalwood.