Bangalore: Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna on January 1 said the Union Home
Ministry has convened a meeting of top police officials of the state and Tamil Nadu
at New Delhi on January 2 to discuss threadbare issues relating to nabbing forest
brigand Veerappan, who has become a menace to both the states.
Chiefs of Special Task Forces (STFs) and other officials involved in the operations
to nab Veerappan would attend the meet, he said in an informal chat with reporters.
"In the year 2003 our resolve is to end the menace of the bandit," he said.
The meeting was expected to review the massive operation that are on against the
fugitive after the death of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader H Nagappa while being
held hostage by the outlaw and decide on the equipments and manpower assistance to be
rendered by the Centre.
Karnataka has requested the Centre to provide sophisticated weapons including
deployment of forces to hunt the dread poacher-smuggler, who has resorted to
abduction of prominent persons in recent years.
"We have to take tough decisions on Veerappan. When top police officials met me this
morning to greet me on the occasion of the New Year, I told them they should motivate
young officers to go all out to end the menace which has brought a blot on the
otherwise good image of the state," Krishna said.
Karnataka government in its hot chase of the bandit has announced Rs 5 crore reward
on his head.
PTI
