Bangalore: A 150-strong team of the National Security Guard on September 7 joined
the Special Task Force (STF) as combing operations were further stepped up to secure
the release of former Karnataka Minister, H Nagappa, who is being held hostage by
forest brigand Veerappan for the last two weeks.
"Around 150 members of the NSG arrived on September 6 night and they have joined the
STF on September 7," a highly placed police source said amidst reports that the STF
now has a "fair idea" of the suspected hideout of the outlaw.
Reports from Kollegal said STF has launched an offensive following clues that the
brigand was holed up in a particular forest region. From Karnataka side, there were
more than 1,000 police personnel in the "nab Veerappan" operations.
Incidentally, the stepped-up operations come close on the heels of Karnataka Chief
Minister S M Krishna ruling out sending jailed Tamil activist Kolathur Mani as an
emissary to negotiate the release of Nagappa.
PTI
