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The Tamil Nadu government should implead itself in cases in Supreme Court and Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking a CBI probe into the April 7 gunning down of 20 woodcutters by police, PMK chief Dr S Ramadoss said today.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam should also lead a delegation to President Pranab Mukherjee to press for a probe either by the CBI or by a Supreme Court judge headed panel, he said in a statement here.
"Tamil Nadu government should implead in cases in Supreme Court and AP High Court seeking CBI probe into the firing on woodcutters and press for the demand," he said.
The 20 tribal woodcutters from Tamil Nadu were killed in police firing in Seshachalam hills in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh. The deaths have sparked protests in Tamil Nadu with various political parties demanding a CBI probe.
Expressing anguish at the "Centre declining to intervene in the issue", he alleged a probe by "Andhra Pradesh will only be an eyewash... Only the Tamil Nadu government should take steps to secure justice for the kin of those killed," he added.
He also said the request for CBI or judicial inquiry should be taken to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Union Minister of State in the PMO Jitendra Singh.
"If these are not done, it may have to be regarded that the Tamil Nadu government is not bothered to unravel the mysteries behind the murders of 20 Tamils," he said.
