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STF intensifies hunt for Veerappan

George Iype in Palghat

The Special Task Force comprising police personnel from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu as well as the Border Security Force have intensified their hunt for Veerappan in the Valayar forests of Kerala with help from the local police.

On Monday, some 2,000 police personnel spread out into the Valayar and Chemmanthimala forests on the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border even as three helicopters and a number of sniffer dogs were pressed into service to spot Veerappan and his gang members.

Police officers claimed that the elusive brigand -- who was spotted by 12 STF men last week in the Valayar forests -- is fighting his last battle. "We have effectively closed all the routes for Veerappan and his men to escape from this side of the forest. We are confident he will be nabbed within a few days," Palghat Superintendent of Police Tomin J Thachankery told rediff.com

The STF officers believe Veerappan and his gang members belonging to two Tamil extremist outfits are now at a loose end. They claim that Veerappan will not be able to withstand the STF operation this time as he has probably run out of food, medicines, money and communication facilities.

Last week, a police team led by Thachankery had recovered a number of items left behind by Veerappan and his associates after a reported encounter between STF personnel and the brigand in the Valayar forests. The items included 10 bags of food, Rs 290,000 in cash, three mobile phones, medical kits and battery sets.

STF officials said Veerappan escaped narrowly after they fired at him and two associates whom the police have named as Chandran and Govindan.

Following the encounter, the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments moved most of the 2,000 STF personnel to the Valayar forests. Forests officers call the Valayar forests "the Palakkad Gap", where a 60 km gap opens up the Western Ghats to Kerala.

Police officers claim to have effectively closed the Palakkad Gap, making it impossible for Veerappan to escape.

On Monday, STF personnel combed the entire forests of Malampuzha, Elival, Akamalavaram and Kaba on the Tamil Nadu side to ensure that Veerappan did not slip back into the deep jungles of Tamil Nadu. The Kerala police have deployed more than 1,000 personnel on special duty on the Kerala side of the forests. The police personnel from Kerala are supervised by Inspector General of Police Alphonse Louise Irayil and Palghat SP Thachankery.

IGP Irayil told rediff.com that Veerappan and his gang have been getting "active help from outside". He pointed out that the brigand's mobile phones and digital diaries, which are being examined by special intelligence teams, conclusively prove that Veerappan is being "aided and assisted by outsiders".

The Palghat police have also taken into custody a new Maruti Esteem, which they claim was meant to pick up Veerappan. The car without a registration number was parked on a remote hilly road outside the Valayar forests on Sunday.

While the STF teams have intensified the hunt for Veerappan, a few officers doubt whether the brigand can be nabbed in a few days. STF Superintendent of Police Ashok Kumar Das, who is camping in the Valayar forests, told reporters that no time frame could be set for catching him. "Since Veerappan and his associates know the terrain well, there is a possibility that he can slip out of our net. But we are trying our best to ensure that we catch him or shoot him dead this time," Das said.

Police also suspect that after the STF personnel's encounter, Veerappan and his gang may have found shelter in some caves in the jungles. Therefore, police officers are actively seeking the help of tribals in the Valayar and nearby Suravani forests to get knowledge of all the caves in the area.

Police said some 60 tribal families who are scattered all over the forests are actively helping the STF.

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