The Hindu : STF trying to cut supplies to Veerappan

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 16, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

STF trying to cut supplies to Veerappan

By V.S. Palaniappan

Coimbatore Dec. 15. The Intelligence Wing of the Special Task Force is keeping a tab on the movements of those entering the jungles, as the brigand, Veerappan, is expected to establish contacts with them for food and medicine.

The STF hopes to cripple his movements by stopping the supply of food and other essential items. Water would not be a problem, as the jungle streams are yet to dry up. Veerappan and his men would feel the pinch of water scarcity only by mid-March or early April.

Highly-placed sources said the only channel through which supplies could reach the brigand was through tribals. Hence, the STF sleuths were keeping an eye on those entering the jungles for firewood and cattle grazing. Labourers employed by contractors for Forest Department works are also under surveillance. The movements of `lambadis', who are engaged in illicit distillation, are also being watched. The KSTF was watching toddy tappers on the Karnataka side.

Procurement of materials from weekly shandies along the fringe areas of the forest is under scrutiny.

As such, the STF and the Forest Department have imposed a blanket ban the people entering the jungles.

The sources are of the opinion that the bandit would have moved only some distance from the place where the former Karnataka Minister, H. Nagappa, was found dead last Sunday.

The usual practice of Veerappan is to go into hiding after mobilising his resources and not venture out for at least a fortnight. The STF is trying to nab him before he goes into hiding.

Patrol teams

Peripheral areas have already been brought under close watch by the TNSTF mobile patrol teams.

The operational area of STF has been divided into five major sectors covering Bargur North and South, Gudiyalathur, Thalamalai, Hasanur, Bhanganawadi, Nattrampalli and Anchetti. The STF had come up with a preventive cover to foil any attempt by the bandit to enter the reserve forests of Coimbatore and the Nilgiris.

Efforts were on to restrict his movement to a particular pocket, the Additional Director General of Police (Tamil Nadu - STF), R. Nataraj, said. Security had been stepped up in all nine police stations along the periphery of the reserve forests, the sources said.

Bunkers using sand bags have come up in front of all the stations and two armed guards with automatic weapons had been provided round the clock. Armed Reserve and the Tamil Nadu Special Police Battalion personnel, in addition to the sanctioned strength of the stations, have been deployed. Elected representatives and top officials are being provided with escort, when they visit tribal hamlets in the jungles, the STF sources said.

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