A task force team opened fire at red sanders smugglers in the foothills of Seshachalam forests in Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday night after the latter pelted stones at the task force.

The incident occurred between 10 30 pm and 11 pm when the team was conducting combing operations in the area. However, no arrests or deaths have been reported.

The task force, which comprised of forest and police personnel noticed footprints in the exit and entry routes of the foothills, following which they were ambushed, a report in The Hindu adds.

This was the fifth attack on security personnel by the smugglers in the last one month, the report adds.

The team has recovered 39 logs worth Rs.60 lakh from the spot, after the smugglers fled the scene leaving behind their bags and axes too.

The police claim that the red sanders smugglers were from Tamil Nadu and have launched a hunt for all of them, who are absconding.