Bangalore: Heavy exchange of fire between the Karnataka special task force (STF) and
notorious forest bandit Veerappan and his gang has taken place in Gopinatham forest
area bordering Tamil Nadu and Karnataka on January 24 night, highly-placed sources
said on January 25.
The sources said that following credible information about the movement of the
outlaw and his gang, the STF personnel, headed by its commander Jyoti Prakash
Mirjee, rushed to the Gopinatham forest range on January 24 and mounted intensive
combing operations.
Towards midnight, the bandit's gang opened fire at the STF, who returned the
fire.
Following the exchange of fire, the Karnataka STF has sounded Tamil Nadu.
Additional forces from both the sides have been moved and the entire area
surrounded, the sources said.
The sources could not say whether there was any casualty on the STF or Veerappan's
side.
The operation against the gang by STF has been kept a closely-guarded
secret.
This is the first encounter between the STF and the Veerappan gang after the body of
abducted Janata Dal – United (JD-U) leader H Nagappa was recovered on November
8.
The STFs of both states have stepped up operations against the outlaw since
then.
PTI
