STF personnel rewarded for putting end to Veerappan menace

Bangalore, July 28 (UNI) The Karnataka Government today disbursed cash rewards worth over Rs 17.50 crore, to 754 Special Task Force (STF) personnel, deployed since 1993, to nab forest brigand Veerappan.

At the annual ceremonial parade of the State police here, Home Minister M P Prakash handed over the rewards to 319 STF personnel, amounting to Rs 7.56 crore. The rest of the personnel were given the reward at their respective working districts today.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Prakash regretted the delay in distributing the cash reward as announced by the State Government as Veerappan was killed in 2004. ''Though the brave police personnel put an end to Veerappan, there is a need to remain vigilant against the mushrooming mini Veerappans,'' he cautioned.

He assured the STF personnel that they would be allotted a residential site as promised by the State Government, besides distributing another cash award of Rs 10.50 crore promised in 1993.

Four commandants, 326 officers, 2,161 constables, 102 civilians and 53 forest and Border Security Force personnel were eligible to receive the cash reward.

The senior police officers who received the cash award include Messrs Shankar Bidari, Sri Vathsava, B S Sandhu, Kempaiah and Jyothi Prakash Mirji, who had headed the force.

Later speaking to newspersons, the Minister ruled out the possibility of dismantling the STF and said it would be deployed for different puposes, including anti-naxal operations.

Karnataka Inspector General and Director General of Police B S Sial, City Police Commissioner N Achyuta Rao and many senior police officers were present on the occasion.

UNI MV DKB KN1318