SC dismisses plea seeking CBI probe in Andhra Pradesh firing

The Supreme Court today declined to entertain petitions seeking a CBI probe or court-monitored inquiry into the firing leading to the killing of 20 people in a forest in Andhra Pradesh's Chittoor district.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice H L Dattu, said the High Court at Hyderabad and the National Human Rights Commission are already looking into the incident.
The petition was filed by an advocate and some individuals who had contended that among the victims were innocent labourers from Tamil Nadu.
The incident came under severe attack from rights activists and political parties including in neighbouring Tamil Nadu.

Andhra Pradesh Police had claimed that six of its personnel were also injured in an attack by alleged smugglers, armed with sickles, axes and country-made weapons.
However, the relatives of the victims said the 20 people were shot dead by the police in cold blood.