Back to square one

THE poacher-turned-saridalwood smuggler Veerappan, operating in the forestsof Karnataka, who has managed toevade all efforts to nab him seems tohave gained an upper hand once again.The fugitive's dose associates includinghis brother, Arjunan, alongwith IyyanDorai and Rangaswarny committed suicide while in police custody.

According to the Mysore police, the3 swallowed cyanide pills enroute toM M Hills in Mysore district where theywere being taken for interrogation bythe Karnataka Special Task Force.Karnataka's home minister, P G RSindlua says that the combined suicideswould seriously hamper investigationsagainst Veerappan. It is still not clear asto how the 3 associates procured cyanidepills.

Efforts to arrest Veerappan haveproved futile so far and the arrests ofVeerappan's brother and close aides wasa shot in the arm for the Karnatakapolice who hoped for vital clues to nailthe forest brigand. They now apprehendthat Veerappan could go on a killingspree to avenge the death of his brother.The state police is now turning towardsthe army and other central paramilitaryforces for reinforcements.