Journalist turned emissary Gopal’s reported meeting with the forest brigand Veerappan has once again caused eyebrows to be raised, especially in the context of the STF intensifying the search operations.
Though details are not immediately available about this clandestine meeting, it is also not clear if Gopal did so with the blessings of the State government. In a cassette sent to Gopal last week, the brigand, who is now cornered, had once again expressed his willingness to surrender and had even come down from his earlier tough postures. Karunanidhi on receipt of the cassette from Gopal, had stated that even now it was not too late for the brigand to surrender, and the eight conditions laid down by the two State governments, still held good.
However it was a mystery how Veerappan was able to send the cassette to his friend despite the vigil of the STF. And now comes news of Gopal’s meeting with the brigand obviously to negotiate ‘surrender’. While Gopal’s earlier forays into the Jungles were to interview the brigand to present ‘his side of the story’, he made three more visits at the peak of the hostage drama as government emissary. The wisdom of the government in surrendering its prerogative to an unofficial person, whose links with the brigand was more than what met the eye, was questioned in several quarters. Even so the government preferred to approach him the second time when Veerappan walked away with a few sitting ducks from the Bandipur sanctuary early last month. Gopal refused to oblige and the CM himself voluntarily explained that it was not advisable for the former to go as the brigand was in a violent mood.
So, in the absence of any indication of a government’s request, the present visit of Gopal raises several questions. How could he have met the brigand despite the constant surveillance of the STF? Or was his visit secretly authorised by the Chief Minister? Was the STF once again, like during the earlier, forays of the emissary, ordered to look the other way while he walked Into the Jungles? What was the role of the Karnataka government in this?
If Gopal had gone into the Jungles on his own without the approval of the Government, does it not warrant action from the authorities as Veerappan is still a wanted criminal? He must have gone there either to negotiate the brigand’s surrender for which he has not been officially authorised or as a personal friend, which again cannot be acceptable and merits Investigation.
With this visit the Veerappan episode is getting curioser and curioser, with only questions galore and no answers. But the fact remains that for some reason the State government prefers to wait for Veerappan to surrender rather than nabbing him. And even more intriguing is the exact nature of the relationship between Gopal and his pal, Veerappan and how they are able to make contact at will, either through cassettes or, in person.
Having met the brigand, with or without permission, Gopal is expected to bring another cassette for the hearing of Karunanidhi, which no doubt will be accepted as it is with no questions asked.
In the meantime, the forest department yesterday appealed to the people living near Bandipur forests not to risk their lives by entering it. An official release has even warned that the 24-hour patrol staff might mistake them to be members of the Veerappan gang and shoot them. The warning does not apply to investigative journalists, it would appear.
For the present the brigand drama is likely to be back on stage. It would no doubt be a welcome relief from the Jain panel revelations, at least for the powers that be.
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