Red sander smuggler killed in encounter

Two police men and a forest offical were also injured in the incident last night, police said.

On a tip-off on the smuggling of red sanders by a gang in the deep forests, a Special Task Force police team along with forest personnel reached the spot. During combing operations, police opened fire at the smugglers who tried to attack them with stones and wood cutting weapons resulting in the death of one of the gang members. Other members in the gang soon escaped from the scene, police said.

All the injured have been hospitalised, police said.