M S SIVAKUMAR Vs. STATE OF TAMIL NADU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) "the end of forest brigand and serial killer Veerappan comes as a great relief to the Governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, whose police resources were put to a tough challenge, on and off, during a 20 year manhunt. Starting his infamous career as an elephant poacher and graduating into a sandalwood smuggler, Veerappan rose to become a challenge to the rule of law and constitutional authority, when he extended his sphere of influence from within an extensive forest area to the doors of important personalities and celebrities. In the last few years, he demonstrated that he could strike deep and kidnap significant persons for big time ransom, or sometimes for the thrill of flaunting his power. In 2000, during the 108-day drama when he held the Kannada film star Rajkumar captive, he marked out the forest as his exclusive domain. The two Governments were reduced not only to negotiating the release of the film star but also looking the other way when ransom was being arranged. Despite the elaborate manhunt launched after the release of Rajkumar, Veerappan not only evaded capture but also struck again by kidnapping and killing a popular leader and ex-Minister of Karnataka H. Nagappa. Without exaggeration, Veerappan could claim to be beyond the reach of India's law. Not only the police, even the Border Security Force personnel seemed clueless on how to track him down. In these circumstances, the success of the joint Special Task Force of the two States comes as a major boost to the morale and image of the police. "

(2.) THE above statement is contained in the 'editorial' of 'the Hindu', dated 20-10-2004.

(3.) ACCORDING to Mr. K. Vijaya Kumar, Chief of Tamil Nadu STF, the operation Cocoon resulted in the death of Veerappan is the result of 10 months of planning and three weeks of meticulous preparations.