Chennai: Tamil Nadu government today gave government jobs to the next of kin of 20 persons who were gunned down by Andhra Pradesh security agencies in Seshachalam forests in April this year. Chief Minister Jayalalithaa gave away appointment orders to five of the next of kin of the 20 persons as a symbolic gesture at the Secretariat here today.

Heeding pleas by families of the victims who had sought government employment citing their poor economic background, the government gave them different posts, an official release here said. While kin of 17 of victims were posted as cooking assistants, those of two others were appointed as Nutritious meal coordinators.

One person was given the post of anganwadi assistant, the official release said. The 20 woodcutters were gunned down on April 7, drawing strong criticism in the state with Jayalalithaa taking it up with her Andhra Pradesh counterpart, N Chandrababu Naidu. The state government had also announced Rs 3 lakh as compensation to the families of the victims.