Now, a Mission with a Vengeance

Karnataka chief minister S.M. Krishna had played dead bat to suggestions for a punitivestrike against Veerappan during the 108 days Dr Rajkumar spent as the brigand’squarry. But within a week of the revered thespian walking free, the CM has initiatedassertive steps to eliminate the bandit and sever the gang’s bonds with pro-ltte forain Karnataka. And to pack more power in this assault against the man who’s tormentedhim most, Krishna will seek the help of the commandos of the National Security Guards.

The Special Task Force (stf), transformed into a robust unit with additionaldirector-general H.T. Sangliana as its chief, had reached Male Mahadeshwar hills whenKrishna made a formal announcement about the operation recently. This officer has ledcounter-insurgency operations in the northeast and is known for his indomitable valour.His hatred for political interference is legendary, a fact politicians learnt during the1978 parliamentary poll from Chikmagalur, when Indira Gandhi was resurrected politically,defeating Veerendra Patil.

Simultaneous with the deployment of the stf was the crackdown on ltte sympathisers inBangalore. The Bangalore police interrogated members of certain fora that even celebrate the birthday of ltte supremo V. Prabhakaran,besides making a list of officebearers of Tamil organisations known to be supporters ofparties like the Dravida Kazhagam and the pmk. “This is to send a message that we arenot sparing anyone, particularly those who are sympathisers of the ltte,” officialsources said.

The prompt action, according to a senior minister, is to erase the feeling thatKrishna’s administration is meek and would not initiate action against the poacher.In addition, the swift action would help restore confidence among investors who signed anMoU with the state government for projects worth Rs 27,000 crore only a month before thekidnap.

The state government’s effort has evoked a positive reaction from the Opposition.“I am confident this will be a determined effort because Mr Karunanidhi too hassuffered a loss during the hostage crisis. I feel Veerappan had a perception of such athreat, otherwise he would not have released Dr Rajkumar without buying peace, as he didin previous instances,” said opposition leader K.H. Srinivas.     

Srinivas said if the police forces of the two states coordinated well, it wouldn’tbe difficult to track Veerappan down. That, incidentally, is the issue that dogs policeofficers’ minds. In the past, the two states have hurled charges of lack ofcooperation against each other, causing delay in operations. Such has been the bitternessthat officers of the two states would not speak to one another over the wireless despite acommon channel. Ego hassles will have to be dealt with alongside attempts to ferret outthe brigand. The likely intervention of central forces could either act as a cementingforce or add to existing differences.

“This time, it’ll be a question of luck as there’ll be no support at allfrom the villagers. If he moves into Tamil Nadu, a large population of Padayachi Gounders(the same community as Veerappan) won’t lend any support. So, we have to get himduring a chance encounter,” says a retired dgp.

 Despite the doubts, Krishna’sadministration has set out to draw an end to Veerappan’s acts. A successful missionwould mean enormous political mileage for his government as well as Karunanidhi’s.