Veerappan, again

This had to happen. Given the state8217;s total and pathetic ineffectiveness against Veerappan 8212; who has been perpetrating his heinous...

This had to happen. Given the state8217;s total and pathetic ineffectiveness against Veerappan 8212; who has been perpetrating his heinous crimes for decades under the garb of being a Robin Hood 8212; the forest brigand was bound to strike again. Only, this time, his victim 8212; former Janata Dal minister H. Nagappa 8212; isn8217;t a celebrity like Rajkumar. But, as with previous abductions of wildlife photographers, police officers or scientists, this crisis too is engulfed in a sickening sense of deja vu. The last crisis assumed explosive proportions given the phenomenal popularity of the victim, coupled with a fallout that hinged dangerously on Tamil pride being pitted against Kannadiga pride. This, in turn, had led Messrs S.M. Krishna and M. Karunanidhi to at least put up a show of a coordinated response.

Tamil Nadu and Karnataka working in tandem this time 8212; given the present political dispensation 8212; seems unlikely. Jayalalithaa has already fired the first salvo by pinning the blame squarely on her Karnataka counterpart. Yet, burying differences and working in tandem may be the only way out. True, Nagappa is no high-profile politician but the nature of Veerappan8217;s demands will indicate the political card he wishes to play. In the past, the bandit raked up issues ranging from compensation for alleged atrocities committed by the Special Task Force STF to the Cauvery water dispute. This time, his intentions are unclear, although his wish list could extend to asking for the release of Tamil nationalist leader Nedumaran, now detained under POTA.

The STF, formed to nab Veerappan, is woefully short of a breakthrough, although it has cost both states a handsome sum running into several crores. The STF, unfortunately, has a lot going against it. Political interference and frequent changes at the top has reined it in many a time, preventing any real headway. But there can be no justification for the governments of two states to allow one criminal to hold the nation hostage. The Karnataka government must share much of the blame for this sorry state of affairs. The STF was caught napping. At the time of Sunday night8217;s operation, most of the attention was focused on Rajkumar, who ironically was visiting his ancestral house near the bandit8217;s lair. As a first step, Karnataka has already asked the Centre for more forces and Home Minister Advani seems keen to help. It is now up to Jayalalithaa and Krishna to put aside their differences and end this farce in the forest for all time.