When alienation ruins

VEERAPPAN, the legendary sandalwood smuggler, may be nabbed shortly, but putting an end to rampant sandalwood smuggling in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu may prove considerably more difficult. The ban on sandalwood export, in conjunction with anti-people conservation measures, have seen more and more people turn to sandalwood smuggling, with the result that Veerappan is now only part of a larger social disease.

Catch me if you can

Scandal in sandal

SANDALWOOD smuggling is raising quite a stink in Karnataka, where poacher-smuggler Veerappan has reportedly recruited three retired army personnel and a former BSF jawan to train other gang members in planting mines and staging ambushes. The four, whose identities are still secret, are supposed to have been paid Rs 4.5 lakh by Veerappan to join his gang. They are reported to be responsible for laying landmines near M M Hills and ambushing Mysore superintendent of police Harikrishna and six other policemen.

Veerappan strikes again

THE ELUSIVE sandalwood smuggler Veerappan has dealt another blow. Last month, he lured Mysore superintendent of police T Harikrishna and his men into a trap and mercilessly killed him and five other policemen. Harikrishna headed the special task force set up to nab the smuggler and had been 'informed' earlier that day that Veerappan was in the forests some 110 kms from Mysore. Just as the policemen reached the supposed site of Veerapan's hideout, they were mowed down with grenades and guns.

Resentment sets fire to Nagarhole

NEARLY eight weeks after the March 14 fire that damaged a portion of the Nagarhole National Park and Reserve Forest -Asia's largest deciduous forest - the debate is on as to what happened on that day and the week thereafter and how much damage was actually done.