Veerappan will be nabbed soon: CM

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 2. The sandalwood smuggler, Veerappan, who has been eluding arrest for over three decades, will be nabbed soon by the revamped Special Task Force, the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa, asserted yesterday. With the Centre's assistance, the STF had been provided with AK- 47 rifles, SLR weapons and binoculars, besides helicopters. ``It is certain that he will be nabbed soon''.

Unlike during the previous DMK regime when the STF operations were given wide media publicity, the present campaign to secure Veerappan, who had killed 124 people so far, would be executed without any hype or fanfare.

She alleged that the DMK regime had taken no step to catch Veerappan and instead encouraged extremist associates of the brigand. Supporters of banned outfits were sent to the forest, ``undermining the sovereignty of the nation,'' to negotiate the release of the Kannada film actor, Mr. Rajkumar, who was held captive by the brigand, she said.

However, after the AIADMK took charge, the STF was revamped by roping in the former DGP, Mr. Walter Dawaram, and the IG, Mr. Vijaykumar.

Criticises Centre

Faulting the Centre for not holding consultations with the Government before shifting IPS officers, Ms. Jayalalithaa said compulsory transfers would result in demoralisation of the police officers and affect their free functioning. Replying to the debate on the demands for grants to the Home department, she said the transfers were not made from the ``offer list'' of officers in Tamil Nadu.

Maintaining that the transfers appeared a punishment for the three officers involved in the arrest of the former Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, she said the three were not eligible for Central deputation.

The total strength of IPS officers sanctioned for Tamil Nadu was 214, but the number in service at present was only 171. The State was to send 37 officers for Central deputation, and already 24 had been sent. This represented 65 per cent of the officers who needed to be sent for Central deputation. On the basis of the 214 officers sanctioned for the State, the percentage worked out to 54.35, she said. The average of all States was 55.56 per cent.

From the average of 25 per cent in Gujarat to 53.85 in Kerala, there were 14 States whose average was less than that of Tamil Nadu.

New-look women cops

Women constables would be given smart searge caps and women officers, peak caps instead of berret caps.And they would be given the same weapons provided to their male counterparts, the Chief Minister said.

Accusing the DMK Government of having allowed all-women police stations to collapse by sheer indifference and neglect, the Chief Minister said the stations would be revamped with helplines and counselling to provide assistance to women in distress. An additional 50 new all-women police stations would be started and in all stations, one woman sub-inspector and two women constables posted in the next two years. Sanction for 119 posts of woman SI and 1638 constables would be additionally given for the purpose at an annual recurring expenditure of Rs. 25.09 crores.

The number of women staff in the Railway police would be augmented from 69 to 129.

The relief fund for women victims of crime would be doubled to Rs. 2 crores.

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