Southern States - Karnataka   

Veerappan informers warned of stern action

By K. Satyamurty

An Indian Air Force helicopter inducted by the Special Task Force to track Veerappan. — Photo: K. Bhagya Prakash

NAL ROAD S.T.F. BASE CAMP (MM Hills) SEPT. 9. The Karnataka police are determined to take strong action against the villagers or tribals who wilfully help or pass on information to Veerappan and his gang.

The Director-General of Police, V.V. Bhaskar, said provisions of the Karnataka Organised Crime Control Act would be used against Veerappan's helpers and informers. The penal action could include seizure of property.

``Despite what happened to Rajkumar two years ago and the recent kidnapping of the former Minister, Nagappa, it is shameful that there are certain elements still helping Veerappan. This is a warning to them,'' he said.

The DGP made it clear that the primary objective was to secure the safe release of Mr. Nagappa and the action to "finish off" Veerappan would follow.

The Inspector-General, Kempaiah, who is back with the STF, said it was no longer possible to believe that some villagers or tribals were helping Veerappan only out of fear or the feeling that the police would come and go while they had to always live in the shadow of the brigand.

``They may help or pass on information about the STF movement to Veerappan once or twice out of fear. But if they are law abiding, they will come to us. The warning about the use of the law against informers repeatedly helping him is to let them know that it is in their long-term interests to help the police. At the same time, confidence-building among the local people is necessary," he said. The STF appears to have narrowed down its combing operations to Kalmathurdoddi, a small area about 15 km from the camp here. It has become a command centre. The terrain is low hills with dry deciduous forests, scrub jungle and a few more deeply wooded valleys offering more cover. All riverbeds are now dry. There has been no heavy rain to restrict their movement seriously.

With supplies probably running out and a sick person on hand, it is not possible for Veerappan and his gang to move out of this area right now, the STF officers feel. All exit points are being watched. Besides the three original members of his gang, Veerappan is believed to have only four or five others with him. Morale is visibly high in the STF camp, where officers from the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu police forces, the NSG commandos and the CRPF are meeting regularly and planning strategies. Only STF personnel familiar with the area are being used for the combing operations within the forests and they are better trained and equipped to move in the jungle trail.

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