The Hindu : `Nab Veerappan' operation comes to standstill

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jan 07, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

`Nab Veerappan' operation comes to standstill

By Our Staff Correspondent

MYSORE Jan. 6. Although one month has passed since the death of the former minister, H.Nagappa, little progress has been made in the direction of nabbing the elusive criminal. The apparent lull in operations to nab Veerappan has caused apprehensions that the bandit's reign of terror would continue for a few more years.

Nagappa's wife, Parimala Nagappa, put it succinctly while speaking to presspersons at her residence at Kamagere recently. "When my husband was in captivity, they launched helicopter operations and pressed the National Security Guard (NSG) commandos into service, jeopardising his life. What prevents them from going after Veerappan now?," she asked.

Soon after Kannada thespian, Rajkumar, was released by Veerappan in November 2000, a relieved State Government had preferred to soft-pedal the dreaded bandit's menace. "But, what happened? Within two years, Veerappan struck and kidnapped Nagappa," said Jameel Ahmed, brother of the slain Sub-Inspector of Police, Shakeel Ahmed.

Although the State Government has announced a judicial inquiry into the killing of Nagappa, parallel efforts to nab the elusive outlaw have not been launched, save for the repeated assertions by the Chief Minister, S.M.Krishna, and the Home Minister, Mallikarjun Kharge, that the Government was committed to nabbing Veerappan.

Notwithstanding Veerappan's claim of innocence about Nagappa's killing and the recovery of spent AK-47 bullet casings from the spot where the former minister's body was found, as if to support the bandit's contention, renewing operations against Veerappan will be justified. For, not only has the bandit killed more than 120 people and looted crores of rupees worth forest wealth during his criminal career spanning more than 20 years, his remaining at large keeps alive the threat of more abductions. Striking with precision at a time when the police and law-enforcing agencies least expected, Veerappan kidnapped Mr. Rajkumar and Nagappa. The others on his "list", as warned by the STF Deputy Commandant, Arakesh, are Kannada activist, Vatal Nagaraj, and the Right Livelihood Award-winner, Sudarshan, besides the Minister of State for Agro Processing, Raju Gowda.

There is a growing perception among the people that the State Government would be repeating the blunders committed after the release of Mr. Rajkumar. The Government's assertions that it was committed to end the menace of Veerappan have so far remained on paper. The offer of surrender by Veerappan as well as the support extended to it by the former STF Commander, H.T.Sangliana, have become a subject of debate. "The suggestion does not endear Mr. Sangliana to the families of victims of Veerappan's chilling barbarity and banditry. Such a despicable idea cannot be countenanced even at the worst of times," said Mr. Jameel Ahmed, clearly favouring Army action to catch the elusive bandit "dead or alive".

Meanwhile, the STF operations appear to have come to a standstill on account of absence of any information relating to the movements of Veerappan's gang. It has been learnt that there is no clue about the gang's hideout in the forest.

Far from combing the forest areas, the STF appears to be merely groping in the dark at present.

The Director-General of Police, T.Madiyal, visited the STF headquarters at M.M.Hills near here on Saturday.

During his visit, Mr. Madiyal held a meeting with STF officials, including STF chief, Jyothi Prakash Mirji.

It is learnt that Mr. Madiyal briefed the STF about the strategies to be adopted by Karnataka forces in co-ordination with Tamil Nadu and Union Government forces, if and when they arrive.

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