STF heroes: Karnataka announces rewards

A total of Rs 16.70 crore in cash will be given to the policemen, a comedown from the Rs 50 crore amount announced by Chief Minister Dharam Singh. Of the total cash award of Rs 16.70 crore, policemen who served over three years in the STF—a total of 433—will receive Rs 3 lakh each; those who served two to three years—numbering 63—will receive Rs 2 lakh each; those who served between one and two years—232 in all—will get Rs 1 lakh each and the 26 who have served for less than a year will get Rs 50,000 each. All policemen of the rank of DSP and above will get a 40×60 square foot plot and those of the rank of inspector and below will receive 30×40 square foot plot. But the announcement has not gone down well with all those who served in STF since its inception in 1993 but were not involved in the killing.

A total of 4,246 persons who have served the STF were hopeful of netting a portion of the Rs 50 crore booty announced by the CM as well as rewards amounting to Rs 15.5 crore placed on the heads of Veerappan and his associates.

‘‘The government order following the CM’s announcement on October 19, clearly states that only those in the STF at the time of the killing of Veerappan are eligible for rewards. The rewards are in line with those announced in Tamil Nadu,’’ says state home secretary Brahm Dutt. The total reward amount has been reduced from Rs 50 crore due to shortage of funds, he said.

The Home Secretary indicated that those who served earlier could claim the Rs 5 crore reward on the head of Veerappan and the nearly Rs 10.5 crore on the heads of his associates.

‘‘Earlier government orders have been issued putting prices on the heads of Veerappan and his associates, these have not been claimed and others can claim this,’’ the home secretary said.

The state government had first announced rewards for Veerappan and his brother Arjunan (Rs 40 lakh each) in April 1993, plus smaller sums on the heads of his then over 100-strong gang.