The incident occurred when a joint team comprising police and forest staff was conducting combing operations in Balapalli forest area of the district.
According to DFO (Tirupati wildlife) G Srinivasulu, a gang of around 20-25 red-sander smugglers suddenly attacked the team with stones and axes.
"Despite warning, the stone pelting continued and police opened fire in self-defense on the attackers, following which one woodcutter from Tamil Nadu was killed while others fled from the scene," Srinivasulu said.