The Karnataka government has banned foreign tourists, VVIPs and VIPs from visiting jungle lodges and guest houses in forests around HD Kote taluk for a month, in the wake of information that forest brigand Veerappan was planning to abduct some eminent personalities.Mysore Deputy Commissioner J. Kumar Nayak has issued a notification following reports from Special Task Force (STF) that Veerappan might kidnap some prominent persons or foreign tourists, who visit the forest areas and the backwaters of the Kabini reservoir frequently.The STF was also on alert as the brigand usually strikes around this time of the year. Veerappan had abducted Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar from his farmhouse at Gajnur on July 30, 2000, and former minister H.Nagappa from Kamagere on August 25 last year. STF sources said they were continuing the tribal-friendly approach to secure information on the movement of the bandit.
