Bangalore: Union Urban Development Minister Ananthkumar on December 22 asked
Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna to order a Central Bureau of Investigation
(CBI) probe into the circumstances of killing of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader H
Nagappa in forest brigand Veerappan's custody.
CBI probe could be held in tandem with the judicial enquiry already ordered by the
Karnataka government, he told reporters here after attending a function where a new
English daily "The Vijaya Times", published by owners of a leading Kannada
daily "Vijaya Karnataka", was launched.
Ananthkumar said Karnataka government had to however give consent for the CBI probe.
Asked about Krishna's plea that the Centre should lead the joint operations of the
Special Task Forces (STFs) of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to hunt Veerappan, he pointed
out that maintaining law and order was a Constitutional obligation of the state
government.
The Centre was ready to involve itself and co-ordinate between the two state
governments, but it was the special responsibility of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to
catch Veerappan, he said, noting that it was within their borders that he was
operating.
He also said Krishna's plea had come in the backdrop of the killing of Nagappa and
after the abduction of Kannada thespian Rajkumar, reflecting the "inefficiency" in
nabbing the bandit.
Ananthkumar however said he would take up with Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and
Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani any request that the Karnataka government had made
for Central assistance in catching Veerappan.
PTI
