Mysore, Jan 30: Karnataka STFhas mounted a massive operation since Wednesday midnight to track down forest brigand Veerappan in the M M Hills forest range following reports that he might be holed up there even as it arrested two key persons allegedly involved in abduction of late JD(U) leader H Nagappa. Amidst conflicting reports about an encounter with the Veerappan gang near Konnanakere around midnight on Wednesday night, the STF men and also their counterparts from Tamil Nadu have been mobilised on a massive scale in the operations. Reports spoke of an exchange of fire between the Veerappan gang and STF, but Karnataka Director General of police T Madiyal denied it and said the operations were continuing.

Using sniffer dogs and "illumination pistol" to emit light, the STF men were intensely combing the jungles near talebetta in the M M Hills forest range, police said.

According to a Salem report, Tamil Nadu director general of police R Rajagopalan said at Mettur that the STFs of both states have cornered Veerappan and he would be nabbed "any time now".

Bureau Report