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November 21, 2000

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Operations against Veerappan in
full swing, says Krishna: PTI

Close on the heels of the release of Kannada thespian Rajakumar, the Karnataka Special Task Force (STF) has launched operations ''in full swing'' to nab forest brigand Veerappan, Chief Minister S M Krishna announced in Bangalore on Tuesday.

Making a statement on the Rajakumar abduction crisis in the assembly, Krishna said the government had drafted Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Karnataka state Reserved Police (KSRP), H T Sangliana to head the STF.

The official was on his way to the STF base to oversee operations, he said.

The Karnataka government would also seek central help in the operations, Krishna said in his statement, which comes a day after an all-party meet on the Veerappan issue, where Opposition leaders had urged the government to involve the Centre.

Krishna, who narrated the events that unfolded since the abduction of Rajakumar and steps taken in consultation with Tamil Nadu to secure the release of the star, defended his government's stand to stick to the path of negotiation to end the hostage crisis.

He said as the government was aware of the deleterious consequences that it would have on the safety of lives of Rajakumar and three other hostages in the event of its contemplating alternatives, including deployment of police force, it decided to pursue a negotiated settlement.

Apparently replying to critics who had blamed the government for failure to nab Veerappan, Krishna said, ''I plead for a sense of perspective and balance in judging the action taken by this government in securing the release of Rajakumar and bringing Veerappan to book.''

Krishna reminded the critics that the efforts of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the last few years to apprehend Veerappan and even the paramilitary force had not succeeded.

Thanking all who helped secure the release of Rajakumar, Krishna, who adopted a degree of caution, said he was not subscribing to the political stance and ideologies of some emissaries.

Krishna's comments came in the wake of involvement of Tamil Nationalist leader P Nedumaran, who is a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam sympathiser and some other LTTE sympathisers, who reportedly persuaded Veerappan to release Rajakumar.

Krishna said the STF has been activated and given full powers to arrest the bandit.

Krishna also dwelt on responses by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to demands by the outlaw to release the actor and other hostages and its consent to depute Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal as an emissary.

He also touched on proceedings in the Supreme Court and the designated TADA court in Mysore, where cases relating to detenues, who are suspected associates on Veerappan, are pending.

Krishna said the government was ready to honour its assurance on humanitarian grounds on the release of TADA detenues, but it would be done only in accordance with law.

Krishna said the state government has requested the high court to name a special judge to dispose TADA cases and the court has issued an order.

The chief minister said that in the wake of Rajakumar's abduction, the government has set in motion ''all processes to eradicate the menace of Veerappan and his associates''.

He thanked his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi for his announcement to launch operations to nab the fugitive.

Karnataka would co-ordinate with Tamil Nadu during the operations, he said.

Krishna appealed to the Centre to take a lead role in efforts to apprehend Veerappan.

The Centre has assured necessary help and Karnataka would avail of it, Krishna said.

Krishna made a similar statement in the Upper House.

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