145;It could create new Veerappans146;

The move by President A P J Kalam to grant pardon to four Veerappan associates, convicted in the 1993 landmine blast case, could well encourage 8216;8216;new Veerappan-like elements8217;8217; in the state, says senior Tamil Nadu police officials who played a key role in killing the forest bandit.

8216;8216;Granting pardon to the four involved in the landmine blast, particularly in the wake of reports that Naxalites are on the move from AP to TN, would encourage new elements,8217;8217; said Senthamarai Kannan, SP, Tiruchirapalli, who played a crucial role in Operation Cocoon on October 18, that killed Veerappan. 8216;8216;Veerappan was a criminal and he was killed. This should be a lesson to all those aspiring to be like him,8217;8217; he added.