"The SIT, led by Ravishankar Ayyanar who till recently headed National Investigation Agency (NIA), Hyderabad branch, will conduct a thorough investigation into the incident that led to the opening of fire by personnel of Red Sanders Anti-Smuggling Task Force besides a probe into the case registered in this regard," AP Director General of Police Jasti Venkata Ramudu said in a statement here today.
The state government has ordered a comprehensive inquiry into the incident, the DGP added.
Twenty people were gunned down in Seshachalam hill ranges of Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh on April 7 in an operation by the police.
Based on a complaint filed by Muniyammal, the wife of one of the victims Sashi Kumar, the AP police had earlier registered an FIR under sections 302 (murder) and 364 (kidnapping or abducting in order to murder) against "unknown" task force personnel.