‘We will catch Veerappan, and soon’

Veerappan gained a huge amount of money from the kidnap of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar. That money has now been used to engage mercenar...

Veerappan gained a huge amount of money from the kidnap of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajkumar. That money has now been used to engage mercenaries to kidnapp former minister H Nagappa. But I don’t have any information yet on the involvement of Tamil extremists in this latest episode.

When the Special Task Force was formed in 1993 under my command, there were over 150 persons in Veerappan’s gang. Due to the efforts taken by me and senior police officers, the number was brought down to just eight.

Unfortunately, many things happened after I retired between 1996 and 2001. Several TNLA and TNRA men befriended Veerappan; the demand for Thani Thamizh Nadu (a separate Tamil Nadu) was raised and a flag was hoisted in the forest. Then, Rajkumar was kidnapped.

After I assmued the office of Joint Chief of STF, the operation was stepped up and the number of gang members reduced to three. Yet, even after the TN STF strenghtened its vigilance, the kidnapping took place within the Karnataka border. But we will catch Veerappan, and soon. There are only three persons who matter in the gang: Veerappan, Sethukulil Govindan and Chandragowda. Unlike in the past, the personnel who are a part of the task force are serving voluntarily. None of them has, till date, asked for a transfer. It shows their determination to nab Veerappan despite the numerous problems we face in the forest. We will take suitable action to rescue Nagappa.

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