Graphic: Indian security forces kill Sandalwood smugglers in Tirupati gun-fight

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Police in India's Andhra Pradesh state say they have killed at least 20 suspected red sandalwood smugglers. The shooting came when loggers attacked police and forestry officials near the holy town of Tirupati, police said. Police are accused of excessive force. Most of the suspected smugglers were from neighbouring Tamil Nadu state. Sandalwood smuggling is rampant in southern India, with a tonne selling for tens of thousands of dollars on the international black market. Red sandalwood or red sanders is a species of tree endemic to the Western Ghats of India. The tree is prized for its rich red wood, mainly for making furniture, and is not to be confused with the highly aromatic sandalwood trees that are native to southern India. Source: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32200188 Thi