The Hindu : Jayalalithaa orders joint operation

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 09, 2002

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Jayalalithaa orders joint operation

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI DEC. 8. Following a request from her Karnataka counterpart, S.M. Krishna, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today ordered an "effective and conclusive joint operation" against the forest bandit, Veerappan.

In a telephonic conversation with Ms. Jayalalithaa after receiving news of the killing of Mr. Nagappa, Mr. Krishna wanted Tamil Nadu to start the joint operation "without further loss of time." Tamil Nadu had suspended the joint operation at the request of the Karnataka Government as there were fears it could affect the safety of Mr. Nagappa.

In a statement, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the killing of Mr. Nagappa "brings to light the urgent need for the two States to work together to capture the forest brigand who has been responsible for numerous bloody murders of innocent persons for several years and to put an emphatic halt to his dastardly acts of violence and crime."

Referring to reports of an encounter between the Tamil Nadu STF and Veerappan, she said: "It is unfortunate that some mischievous elements are now trying to foment trouble by spreading rumours that it was the Tamil Nadu STF who were responsible for this encounter in which Mr. Nagappa lost his life. This is totally untrue. The Tamil Nadu STF had no role to play in Karnataka after the joint operations were called off on the request of the Government of Karnataka. The Tamil Nadu STF were in no way connected with this incident which took place nearly 40 km into Karnataka territory."

A press release said the Deputy Prime Minister, L.K. Advani, in a telephone conversation with Ms. Jayalalithaa tonight, requested her to start a concerted effort along with the Karnataka Government to nab Veerappan and assured her all assistance from the Centre.

Ms. Jayalalithaa assured Mr. Advani that the STF in Tamil Nadu would be fully geared to take up the joint operations, as the State had always adopted a definite strategy and resorted to firm action within its territory in its efforts to capture Veerappan.

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