BANGALORE: Kamataka is seriously considering deployment of Paramilitary forces 10 nab the Sandalwood Smuggler and Poacher Veerappan, who has killed More than 50 policemen and forest officials.
The possibility of seeking the help of the Indo Tibetan Border Police (TBP), which has the experience of operating in the forests of the Northeast, is not being ruled out.
“It depends upon the availability of the commando force,” said a top source. The government appears to have thought of approaching the Center in the wake of the attack on the special task force (STF) of Karnataka by Veerappan and his men, in which Six policemen were killed.
Meanwhile, the Mysore police have cremated the bodies of the eight persons who were killed by the STF in what had been described as a fake encounter, Nobody came to claim the bodies.
Doubts about the veracity of the police version of the events of last week continue with even some well-placed police officers considering the encounter to have been staged.
The first reason for doubting the escort party constable’s statement to reporters that the 40 odd gangsters were wearing olive green uniform is that the eight dead persons were wearing shirts and Knickers.
Sources in the special branch said there was no exchange of fire with the gang. If no one was killed, it Would have demoralized the entire police force in the state and sent wrong signals to the people. (It would have been said that) as always STF men retreated from the scene without an retaliation,” said a police officer.
Another police source said the police constables accompanying the STF deputy chief, Gopal Hosur, retreated from the spot in panic. However, senior police officers in Bangalore said the con Stables in the third and fourth jeep showed tremendous presence of mind and fired back at the gang members who have covered the road from all sides.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 4, 1993
