Back to square one

THE poacher-turned-saridalwood smuggler Veerappan, operating in the forests
of Karnataka, who has managed to
evade all efforts to nab him seems to
have gained an upper hand once again.
The fugitive's dose associates including
his brother, Arjunan, alongwith Iyyan
Dorai and Rangaswarny committed suicide while in police custody.

According to the Mysore police, the
3 swallowed cyanide pills enroute to
M M Hills in Mysore district where they
were being taken for interrogation by
the Karnataka Special Task Force.
Karnataka's home minister, P G R
Sindlua says that the combined suicides
would seriously hamper investigations
against Veerappan. It is still not clear as
to how the 3 associates procured cyanide
pills.

Efforts to arrest Veerappan have
proved futile so far and the arrests of
Veerappan's brother and close aides was
a shot in the arm for the Karnataka
police who hoped for vital clues to nail
the forest brigand. They now apprehend
that Veerappan could go on a killing
spree to avenge the death of his brother.
The state police is now turning towards
the army and other central paramilitary
forces for reinforcements.