The Hindu : Nagappa's family to insist on CBI probe

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

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Nagappa's family to insist on CBI probe

By S. Rajendran

Bangalore Jan. 6. The Janata Parivar in consultation with the family members of the former Minister, H. Nagappa, who was found killed in the Chengadi forests after being held captive by the forest brigand, Veerappan, for over three months, has decided to take on the authorities head-on after the completion of Nagappa's final rites — Shivaganaradhane — on Thursday.

Though the Janata Dal (United), particularly the Floor Leader of the party in the Legislative Assembly, P.G.R.Sindhia, was in the forefront of the "Save Nagappa struggle" during his stay in the forests as well as now seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the cause of the former Minister's death, reports have it that people in Kollegal and Chamarajanagar taluks are trying to ascertain the cause of death on their own.

The members of Nagappa's family and the leaders of the Janata Dal (U) are likely to go to court in case the Union Government turns down their demand for a CBI probe. The party is not in favour of a judicial probe ordered by the Government as in its view there is also the issue of alleged complicity of the Tamil Nadu and Union Governments in the case to be tackled. The feeling is that only a CBI probe could bring out the truth.

The party sources said that following the Government's refusal to order a CBI probe in the matter, the STF, which had intensified combing operations after the death of Nagappa, was groping in the dark as even its original network of informers had deserted it. The situation in the Kollegal forests was different compared to the one prevailing on the Tamil Nadu side as far as "recruiting'' police informers was concerned.

On the other hand, the people are wary of the STF as there is a likelihood of an attack on them by the forest brigand.

What, however, is interesting is the "pressure'' being mounted by some of the followers of Veerappan on the authorities. These men, who covertly serve as informers on the movements of the STF and supply essential commodities to the forest brigand, are said to have been mounting pressure through their political contacts.

They want a quick and thorough inquiry by a high-level agency apparently to ensure and tell the people that Veerappan was not responsible for the death of the former minister and that Nagappa was killed in a cross fire by a bullet from a police firearm.

Sources close to Nagappa's family and Janata Dal activists in the hometown of the former minister told The Hindu here on Monday that efforts would be made to approach the President seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

This would be followed by meetings with the Prime Minister and the Deputy Prime Minister and Union Home Minister.

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