Hunt on for Veerappan

By Our Staff Reporter

WALAYAR (Palakkad), FEB. 3. The Special Task Force comprising personnel from Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu along with the Kerala police today launched a massive manhunt employing helicopters and sniffer dogs for the brigand Veerappan after he was spotted and fired at in the Walayar forests on Friday.

The STF personnel, who fired at the gang at Chemmanthymala, told The Hindu they spotted Veerappan and his associates, Chandran and Govindan, during combing operations in the area.

Mr. Subramaniyan, sub-inspector of the T.N. STF, said he was the first to spot the outlaws and fire at them before the latter could respond. Veerappan, his two aides and seven other gang members trailing behind, then ran into the forest from three directions. The STF men fired 24 rounds.

Mr. Subramaniyan said, ``Veerappan had a narrow escape yesterday but we will catch him soon as we have confirmed that he is camping in the area. They (the gang members) are now left with only weapons as they left behind all their food and clothes. One of them was injured in the firing.''

Another STF member, Mr. Jayaprakash, said, ``as we were clad in lungis and old shirts, the outlaws thought we were local people come to collect firewood. Chandran even called one of us, Mr. Mani, to come closer. But, as the rest of our team was just behind, two them carrying AK-47s, Veerappan asked Chandran to open fire. Before he could do so, SI Subramaniyan opened fire and the gang fled into the forest.''

The STF personnel said they had been able to identify the brigand and his associates immediately as they were associated with the earlier operation against the gang. All the outlaws were clad in Army uniforms.

Since the STF's intelligence wing was not equipped with enough arms they could not follow the gang.

FIR against Veerappan

Meanwhile, the Walayar police today filed an FIR (18\2000) against Veerappan and ten others on a complaint from the STF personnel, charging that the brigand had tried to kill STF personnel. This is the first time the State police has filed a case against Veerappan. The brigand was also charged under the Explosives Act and the Wildlife Protection Act.

A police team led by the Walayar SP, Mr. Tomin J. Thachankery, recovered ten bags including Rs. 2.92 lakhs in cash, some electronic items, a mobile phone charger, an emergency medical kit, a compass, battery sets and food items.

More companies of the STF have moved into the area and top officials supervising the operation feel the brigand cannot escape.

`Escape routes sealed'

Later, Mr. N. Tamilselvan, DIG, Tamil Nadu police, told reporters this was the first time the gang had been spotted from so close. Considering the brigand's knowledge of the terrain, steps had been taken to seal all possible escape routes, the DIG said and expressed confidence that the brigand would be nabbed soon.

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