STF will pursue mission to its logical end

By V.Jayanth

CHENNAI, JUNE 29. With the Director-General of Police, Mr. A. Ravindranath, and the Government firmly ruling out any negotiations with the forest brigand Veerappan, it is now clear that the operations of the Special Task Force (STF) will continue to their ``logical end'' - the capture or surrender of the smuggler.

According to official sources, the Chief Minister, Ms. Jayalalithaa weighed all options and took a ``determined decision'' to resume the special operations to nab Veerappan. ``There is no room for any negotiation, but the door is always open for an unconditional surrender''.

The police are encouraged by the offer and intervention of the Tamil Nationalist Movement leader and former Government emissary, Mr. P. Nedumaran, to recommence talks for a negotiated surrender. ``This only shows that the operations are having the desired effect and the pressure is mounting on the brigand to decide one way or the other'', says a senior police officer.

When the Government revamped the STF and appointed Mr. Walter Dawaram its new chief, on contract, the mandate was very clear, they say - ``catch him alive or dead - preferably alive''. The Government did not shut the door on the brigand's ``unconditional surrender'', but ruled out amnesty. If caught alive, Veerappan would have to face the consequences.

In the nearly 10-day-old operation, the STF has moved in to the jungles from all sides. It has adopted a multipronged strategy - of befriending the tribal people, collecting intelligence, stepping up vigil on the borders and gradually closing in on the brigand himself.

The police are under no illusion that the operations will be over in a fortnight or month and are fully prepared for a long haul. This has been the basis of all plans and the selection of personnel for the STF - able and young policemen were asked to volunteer for the challenging task.

With the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments apparently determined to take the operations to their logical conclusion, there seems to be little room for granting `amnesty' to the brigand. Apart from the Governments' reluctance, such a move, officials say, could be challenged in court.

``We must keep in mind that Veerappan is responsible for more than a hundred killings - of policemen and civilians - besides animals, and largescale poaching as well as smuggling'', the police argue.

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Section  : Southern States
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