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How to nab Veerappan:
Former TN DGP's speak out

Shobha Warrier in Madras

With the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments' green signal to the Special Task Force to nab sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, the question on everyone's mind is, will the operations be successful this time?

Political analysts believe that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi is under tremendous pressure to come out with some positive results now, as the elections are nearing. The opposition, led by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief J Jayalalitha, is asking some tough questions about the links between the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and Tamil extremists' in the Rajakumar kidnap.

By allowing Tamil nationalist leader P Nedumaran to negotiate with Veerappan in the jungles, Karunanidhi unwittingly has given the impression to the people of Tamil Nadu that he has gone soft on the LTTE and Tamil extremists.

After the Supreme Court's tirade against both the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments, many believe that they will be forced to act tough on the bandit now.

Ther is also the question of whether the STF equipped to fight Veerappan? Many former Tamil Nadu police chiefs that rediff.com spoke to believe that Veerappan can easily be nabbed by a commando action. They also feel that taking villagers into confidence is the most important aspect of the operation as Veerappan has eluded the police with the support of the villagers. To gain their confidence is a tough task, but not impossible, they felt.

Rajasekharan Nair, who retired as the Director General of Police in 1997, said that experienced commandos can capture Veerappan. "The commandos should be experienced in forest operations," he says. "We require motivated commandos who can stay long periods in the jungle."

Nair says the lack of proper training coupled with the fact that villagers are on his side, has helped Veerappan. Nair said, "He is thorough with all parts of the jungle. So, we need commandos who can stay in the forest for a long time. Unless the police of both states give villagers adequate protection, it will be very difficult to nab him."

Former DGP S Sripal, who retired in 1996, also feels that Veerappan can be caught by commando action. He also feels that the support of people living in the forest is crucial.

"You cannot threaten them, you have to be friendly. You have win their trust so that they are not scared of Veerappan." He agrees that at present the police do not enjoy the villagers' support but "all that can be changed within a month."

He did not feel the need for any central help. "The STF is trained to engage in jungle warfare."

Sripal is confident that if there is a coordinated effort by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Veerappan will be caught in no time.

Vaikunt was the DGP when Walter Dawaram and his men stormed into the Satyamangalam forest and reduced Veerappan's 150-strong gang to just five. Vaikunt, who retired in 1995, also feels that the time is ripe to launch a commando operation. But without proper information, no commando action will be successful, he says. "He was elusive because the police action was not based on any precise intelligence about his movements."

By cultivating villagers living in the forest he can be easily caught. "Veerappan is familiar with the jungle while the police force has to study the topography. Veerappan also has this Robin Hood image. He mercilessly kills people but at the same time helps them too. Villagers are sacred of him and will not come out with the truth about his movements. The idea is to isolate Veerappan and then capture him."

Vaikunt had suggested earlier the constitution of a special constabulary in which local people can be inducted as special constables. The police force can train them and make use of their network and send them into the jungle as a part of the police force.

He agrees that the operation will need time. "You just cannot go in there and capture him. There has to be a strategy and a plan of action. The most important part of the plan is the intelligence network. You cannot go on a blind chase. You also have to see that innocent villagers are protected. Veerappan seems to know more about police movements than the police themselves. That was why there have been so many causalities among the police. It is the locals who inform Veerappan him about the movements of the police force. So, without their support, the police will be ineffective."

Vaikunt feels even if there is an LTTE connection, it wouldn't be a difficult task for the Tamil Nadu police as it had destroyed LTTE bases successfully earlier.

Former DGP Raveendran, who served the state from 1986-88, went one step further and said, "Unless the Kerala government is also roped in, it will be difficult. We need a STF cadre from Kerala also as the terrain extends to Kerala. It has to be a joint operation among the three states. They also will have to take assistance from the government of India and Border Security Force because they have access to high tech equipment that can pinpoint the bandit's location. During my tenure, Veerappan was more active on the Karnataka side. So, he can operate from any part of the huge jungle."

Raveedran strongly believes that the operation has to start without delay. "Veerappan may move out. And particularly because of his links with all these pro-LTTE groups, he can shift even to Sri Lanka!"

Raveendran agrees that there was not much political will earlier to nab Veerappan but feels that it is not so now. "Elections are nearing and the Tamil Nadu government has to show some results. If there is will, he can be caught anytime! And, I feel now is the right time."

ALSO SEE
Sangliana: Tough cop put on Veerappan's trail
Give Veerappan a chance to reform: Nedumaran

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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