Bangalore: Karnataka is making efforts to secure the deployment of a special
commando force being trained at Belgaum in guerrilla warfare for operations against
forest bandit Veerappan, Minister for Home Mallikarjun Kharge said on December
17.
He said the information gathered by the government suggested that the commandos
trained at a Defence establishment in Belgaum could undertake combing operations in
a stretch for about a fortnight even in extreme weather conditions.
The commandos were capable of sustaining on a low diet for a long time, he said.
Kharge said talks were on with the Centre in seeking gadgets that would help the
operation to hunt Veerappan and also the support of para military forces.
Prime Minister A B Vajpayee was yet to respond to the Chief Minister S M Krishna's
plea for convening the meeting of Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and
Kerala to work out a joint strategy, to end the elusive run of the bandit.
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have stepped up operations in the forests, he said, but
refused to give details.
Kharge said the government would be writing to the state High Court Chief Justice, N
K Jain requesting for naming a sitting judge to head the judicial enquiry ordered
into the death of Janata Dal United (JDU) leader H Nagappa, who was killed in
Veerappan's captivity.
Nagappa's dead body was found in Chengady forests on December 8.
PTI
