STF zeroing in after a close shave

Amid the arrival of crack NSG commandos, the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka STF together launched a massive combing operation at the crack of dawn...

Amid the arrival of crack NSG commandos, the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka STF together launched a massive combing operation at the crack of dawn on Saturday after receiving a specific tip-off that Veerappan had been spotted around Kalavathurpatti under the Ramapura forest range.

This provoked protests from friends and family of hostage Nagappa with a large number of villagers gathering in front of the Ramapura police station. IGP Kempaiah had to intervene and managed to cool frayed tempers when he assured the supporters of the former minister that the STF would ensure his safety.

In Bangalore, 180 National Security Guard NSG commandos arrived from New Delhi early in the morning along with four specially trained sniffer dogs. In the evening, an NSG commander also reached Bangalore to supervise the operations. Officials later confirmed that they had left for Ramapura to join the STF operations there.

At about 12.15 pm yesterday, the STF personnel combing the BR Hills is said to have come dangerously close to Veerappan and his hideout. According to information reaching the STF headquarters, STF personnel spotted two tents, one white and the other blue, a kilometre away from the forests between Haleshappanadoddi and Kalamatanapatti.

But by the time they reached the spot at 1 pm, the tents had been removed and nobody was to be found. All that remained were some cooking utensils and some leftover food. After getting the message, additional STF personnel were rushed to the spot and the combing intensified in the area.

According to sources, the STF was later able to zero in on the forest brigand in Ramapura after three persons were arrested while ferrying food for Veerappan.

After a quick meeting of top officials, the STF decided to pool in forces from both states and move in men from all the camps in and around Dinalli, Maralli, Meenya, Hoogyan, Jallipalya, Nellur, Nalroad and surrounding areas.

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Meanwhile, Nagappa8217;s wife Parimala reached Ramapura and appealed to SP Harishekaram to stop the combing operations.

However, Harishekaram is said to have expressed helplessness as the men had already moved out into the jungles.