THE poacher-turned-saridalwood smuggler Veerappan, operating in the forests of Karnataka, who has managed to evade all efforts to nab him seems to have gained an upper hand once again. The fugitive's dose associates including his brother, Arjunan, alongwith Iyyan Dorai and Rangaswarny committed suicide while in police custody.

According to the Mysore police, the 3 swallowed cyanide pills enroute to M M Hills in Mysore district where they were being taken for interrogation by the Karnataka Special Task Force. Karnataka's home minister, P G R Sindlua says that the combined suicides would seriously hamper investigations against Veerappan. It is still not clear as to how the 3 associates procured cyanide pills.

Efforts to arrest Veerappan have proved futile so far and the arrests of Veerappan's brother and close aides was a shot in the arm for the Karnataka police who hoped for vital clues to nail the forest brigand. They now apprehend that Veerappan could go on a killing spree to avenge the death of his brother. The state police is now turning towards the army and other central paramilitary forces for reinforcements.