Rains, Govts mess up "nab Veerappan" mission

MYSORE, NOV 26: Heavy rains in the forests bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the haunt of the dreaded forest brigand, during the last 48 ...

MYSORE, NOV 26: Heavy rains in the forests bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, the haunt of the dreaded forest brigand, during the last 48 hours and confusion regarding the response of the governments of the two states to the latest surrender offer by the brigand, has brought the Nab Veerappan operations to the virtual stand still.

According to sources, heavy rains in the forests at Chamrajnagar and Kollegal in Karnataka and Dimbam and adjoining areas in Tamil Nadu since the last two days has literally forced the Combined STF troupes to remain confined to the barracks at their camps.

“We have not been able to move or conduct any combing operations during the last few days owing to heavy rains in the region. The situation has been complicated further by the brigand’s latest surrender offer through Nakeeran editor R R Gopal. We are yet to receive any communication from either governments regarding the status of the latest surrender initiative and this has also put the operational forces in a quandary,” an highly placed STF source told The Indian Express on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, according to intelligence information gathered by the Karnataka STF, the brigand’s movement has been noticed in the Masanagudi forests inside Tamil Nadu.