India’s National Human Rights Commission ordered an investigation into the killing of 20 alleged sandalwood smugglers after hearing two testimonials on Monday.
The testimonies countered police claims that the alleged loggers were shot in an exchange last week, claiming instead that they were executed.
The police say that the killings took place when they challenged a group of 100 sandalwood smugglers who attacked them with axes and stones, reports the BBC.
The killings of the alleged smugglers, who were mostly Tamil, sparked mass protests in Tamil Nadu.
Shock in Tamil Nadu over police mass killing (08 Apr 2015)
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