Close on the heels of the release of Kannada thespian Rajkumar, Karnataka Special Task Force (STF) has launched operations "in full swing" to nab dreaded outlaw Veerappan, chief minister, S M Krishna announced on Tuesday.
Making a statement on the Rajkumar abduction crisis in the Assembly, Krishna said the government has drafted Additional Director General Of Police (ADGP), Karnataka State Reserved Police (KSRP), H T Sangliana to head the STF. The Karnataka Government would also seek Central help in the operations, Krishna said in his statement, which comes a day after an all-party meet on the Veerappan issue, where opposition leaders had urged the government to involve the Centre also. Krishna, who narrated the events that unfolded since the abduction of Rajkumar and the steps taken in consultation with Tamil Nadu to secure the release of the mega star, stoutly defended his government's stand to stick to the path of negotiations to end the hostage crisis. He said as the government was aware of the grave consequences that may have on the safety of Rajkumar and three other hostages in the event of its contemplating alternatives including deployment of police force, it decided to pursue a negotiated settlement. Bureau Report