The Hindu : `We want Veerappan dead or alive'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Aug 29, 2002

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`We want Veerappan dead or alive'

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI AUG. 28. The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Jayalalithaa, today ruled out granting amnesty to the forest brigand, Veerappan, and asserted that the only aim was to get him "dead or alive". Ms. Jayalalithaa also ruled out the possibility of having a mediator to facilitate the release of the abducted former Karnataka Minister, H. Nagappa.

Making a distinction between the approach of the State Government on the Cauvery water and the Veerappan issues, she said that while her Government would continue to fight for Tamil Nadu's rightful share of the Cauvery water, it would fully cooperate with Karnakata to nab Veerappan. Ms. Jayalalithaa reiterated that both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka had sought special equipment for intelligence gathering and paramilitary troops trained in jungle operations from the Centre to supplement the efforts of the Special Task Forces to nab Veerappan.

Asked whether Veerappan's latest abduction reflected the failure of the Tamil Nadu STF's operations to nab the brigand, she said that if one had to pinpoint failure it was lack of political will on the part of the previous DMK Government between 1996 and 2001.

Till Kannada actor Raj Kumar's abduction, not a single encounter had taken place. This was against 28 encounters by the STF during 1991-96 when she was the Chief Minister. The STF then had brought down the Veerappan gang's number from 150 to just five. On the other hand during M. Karunanidhi's regime, Veerappan was allowed to regroup and that emboldened him to indulge in abductions, she said.

Ms. Jayalalithaa emphasised there was no "lack of political will or let up'' in the STF operations after she had revived the unit last year.

Responding to a question, she said there was no question of releasing P. Nedumaran or other Tamil separatist leaders to secure the release of Mr. Nagappa.

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