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Tamil Nadu STF continuing operations to nab Veerappan

N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai

The Tamil Nadu Special Task Force is continuing with combing operations in the Sathyamanglam forest range to nab Veerappan, while their counterparts in Karnataka have stopped searching for the forest brigand and his hostage, former state minister H Nagappa.

STF sources told rediff.com their renewed efforts stem from their previous experience when the brigand lost the focus of the nation when the Rajakumar abduction crisis ended. "Today, other than some disturbances in Nagappa's native Mandya district, there is no pressure on the Karnataka administration. And if we do not hunt for Veerappan, it may not happen again," one source said.

Their efforts are also directed towards keeping the forest brigand in the Karnataka part of the Sathyamangalam forest as Veerappan after abducting Rajakumar had taken shelter in Tamil Nadu, leading to bureaucratic wrangling between the two states on the jurisdiction of their respective STFs, sources said.

But, other sources said that the renewed vigour on part of the Tamil Nadu STF to capture Veerappan may 'hamper' the efforts to negotiate the release of Nagappa, who has been the hostage of the forest brigand for three weeks now.

The Tamil Nadu government is also closely watching the developments in Karnataka as there is the lurking fear of anti-Tamil riots breaking out in that state.

Reports that a pan-Tamil Dravidian leader, Kolathur Mani, has sent out an audiotape appealing for Nagappa's freedom to Veerappan is also being watched with interest.

Mani, whose family Veerappan's father had served as a farmhand, was actively involved in negotiating freedom for Rajakumar along with Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P Nedumaran.

Mani is in Bellary prison in Karnataka on charges of providing arms and ammunition to the forest brigand.

Though Veerappan had sought Mani as the emissary to negotiate terms for Nagappa's release, the Karnataka government rejected the forest brigand's demand, citing pending criminal cases against Mani.

The state government is also not confident of getting even an interim order from the judiciary after the Supreme Court came down heavily on the withdrawal of cases against the associates of Veerappan at the height of the Rajakumar abduction crisis.

For the present, the Karnataka government and the Nagappa family seem to count on Palanichamy, brother of Kolathur Mani, to pass on the message to the brigand.

H Nagappa Abduction: Complete coverage
The Abduction of Dr Rajakumar
The Hunt for Veerappan

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