Bangalore, Dec 22: Union Urban Development Minister Ananth Kumar today asked Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna to order a CBI probe into the circumstances of killing of JD(U) leader H Nagappa in forest brigand Veerappan's custody. CBI probe could be held in tandem with the judicial enquiry already ordered by the Karnataka government, he told reporters here after attending a function where a new English daily was launched.

Ananth Kumar said Karnataka government had to, however, give consent for the CBI probe.

Asked about Krishna's plea that the Centre should lead the joint operations of the special task forces of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka to hunt Veerappan, he pointed out that maintaining law and order was a constitutional obligation of the state government. The Centre was ready to involve itself and coordinate between the two state governments but it was the special responsibility of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to catch Veerappan, he said, noting that it was within their borders that he was operating.

He also said Krishna's plea had come in the backdrop of the killing of Nagappa and after the abduction of Kannada thespian Rajkumar, reflecting the "inefficiency" in nabbing the bandit. Ananth Kumar, however, said he would take up with Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani any request that the Karnataka government had made for central assistance in catching Veerappan.

Bureau Report