The Hindu : Centre wants joint plan on Veerappan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jan 03, 2003

National

National

Centre wants joint plan on Veerappan

By Anjali Mody

NEW DELHI JAN. 2. The Centre has asked Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to come up with a co-ordinated strategy to nab the forest brigand, Veerappan, as the first step to any assistance from New Delhi.

At a meeting today in the Home Ministry to discuss Centre-State cooperation on the issue of Veerappan, the Centre's message was clear: it would give whatever help was needed, but first the two States had to have a plan and a coordinated strategy. The States' demands for material help from the Centre would only be considered after this.

The special meeting to discuss the Veerappan problem, attended by the Special Task Force chiefs of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, R. Natarajan and Jyoti Prakash Mirji, was chaired by A.K. Bhandari, Special Secretary in the Home Ministry. Also present were L.C. Goel, Joint Secretary in the Home Ministry, senior police officials from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, as well as representatives of the Army and the Air Force.

The Tamil Nadu STF chief, Mr. R. Natarajan, told reporters after the two-hour long coordination committee meeting that the discussion revolved round "the joint strategy, plan of action and the level of cooperation'' He insisted that there was "very good coordination at the ground level'' between the two States and their "intention is to catch him as fast as possible''.

Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had presented the Centre with a joint wish-list for assistance, soon after the kidnap of the Karnataka Janata Dal (U) leader, Nagappa. Their list for ``technical intelligence support'' included surveillance aircraft, intercept equipment, helicopters and remote sensing equipment. There has been a consistent demand for Central troops trained to deal with forest conditions.

In the past too, the Centre had indicated that without the State Governments' commitment to dealing with Veerappan no amount of Central assistance would make a difference.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National

Stories in this Section

No pressure to resume talks with Pak., says Advani

Kelkar report

Asian Social Forum gives a call to fight globalisation

Sunni meet to discuss Shariat tenets

Pak.-India forum disapproves of visa restrictions

Centre wants joint plan on Veerappan

"Only Ayodhya on BJP's agenda"

CPI(M) condemns 'doublespeak'

Buta Singh wants more powers for PAC

PM cannot be taken seriously: IUML

PM's musings, bid to create confusion: Bardhan