Is Veerappan now eyeing foreigners?

vasuki

Resort owners on the fringes of the Bandipur and Nagarahole national parks are fuming. They have all just been told not to entertain foreigners.

According to a notice issued to the resorts, police claim that they have information that the brigand Veerappan would be targetting foreign tourists.

Since the police cannot guarantee their safety, the resorts have been told to cancel any current bookings by foreign clients and not to take any bookings from foreigners until further notice.

Just when bookings had stabilised, they (resorts) have been hit with this thunderbolt. “Instead of doing their job and catching Veerappan, the police want us to stop doing our jobs.

THE LINK

archits

Interesting - the resort owners should hear American tourist trade complaining about bin Laden ! or New Yorkers hit by the recession after 9/11. Or Kashmiris.

Maybe the police just want a good old fashioned bribe ?

Apana

As a wildlife photographer who visits the region and who has followed the Veerappan saga with interest, I think the warning should be taken seriously.

All through his 'career' Veerappan has kidnapped people for ransom. Most of these kidnappings were never reported (quarry owners and their relatives). The ransom was paid and the person released.

Years ago the police did recover a diary that listed Rajkumar and Nagappa as possible targets (amogst others). Though a report was filed nobody seems to have acted on it.

When Veerappan raided Bandipur, he did so to kidnap foreigners, convinced that their governments would pay to have their citizens released. He first kidnapped the wildlife photographers Krupakar and Senani. He wanted to know where foreigners stayed and for how long. Krupakar and Senani convinced him that these foreign governments would not pay but would bomb the hell out of the forests if he kidnapped their citizens.

Perhaps it is best to take the warning seriously.

On the other hand, the lack of success of the part of the Special Task Force (primarily because they have alienated the locals) may have made them issue this warning as a diversionary tactic

Personally, I'm headed to Nagarhole, Bandipur, and Mudumalai from July 1st.

Apana

-m2-

thanks for the report, vasuki, and Apana for the (yikes) first-hand update. - just from reading about him in the weekly mags it would seem prudent to take the guy seriously.

however, all the best for your trip Apana, I hope it goes well and you have a safe return.

m2

Apana

Thanks

Apana