The Hyderabad High Court on Monday declined to order a CBI inquiry into the killing of 20 red sander woodcutters by Andhra Pradesh police in Chittoor district of the state in April this year.

A division bench of the high court, comprising acting Chief Justice Dilip B Bhosale and Justice SV Bhatt, was hearing a petition filed by the relatives of the victims to entrust to CBI the investigation into the circumstances leading to the killing of the wood-cutters.

The chief justice observed that it is difficult to come to a conclusion at this juncture that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the AP government has failed to discharge its functions properly.

The bench further said that it may consider the request for transfer of the investigation to CBI at a later juncture if it is convinced that the investigation by the SIT is not satisfactory or inadequate.

Andhra Pradesh government had said 20 red sander 'smugglers' were killed and six policemen injured in an exchange of fire after they attacked the police in Seshachalam hill ranges in Chittoor district on April 7.