These photos throw light on the kind of life Veerapan leads in his forest hideout...»
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The only little hitch seems to be that the Centre is yet to decide on the security agency it will be sending to assist the Special Task Force. “As the equipment and surveillance censors are sensitive and cannot be handed over to the states, a security agency will need to be identified for the job”, a Home Ministry official, who did not want to be named, said on Friday.

The Border Security Force (BSF), which was earlier deployed against Veerappan, is now concentrated in Jammu and Kashmir for the forthcoming elections, and hence, will not be available till October.

Karnataka Chief Minister SM Krishna had recently requested Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani for sophisticated surveillance and combat equipment. The equipment is mostly to enhance intelligence gathering.

Hindustantimes.com spoke to some Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Internal Security and Army personnel to know how the equipment will be used in a possible combat operation against Veerappan. We bring here the line of action…

Air surveillance

Low-flying surveillance aircraft can provide vital information on human movement in deep forests, such as those in Kollegal and Chamrajnagar. Fitted with high-resolution cameras, it can take thermal images, which can not only distinguish one land feature from another, but also differentiate between men and beasts.

The data is then transferred from the camera to a computer to get a clear image and the position of the object. Once the location of the target is established, the combat tams are given a go-ahead.

The imaging is so powerful as to help differentiate a leaf from a camouflaged person. It can also be used to detect heat sources such as campfire in a cave or footsteps long after they have been left.

The security forces can also use 3-D maps to help plot operational strategy, to put observation points and camp elite forces at suitable locations n the forest.

Ground mission: The elite force

Once Veerappan is spotted, experts feel, the operation can be handed over to elite forces such as NSG, Black Cats or Grey Hounds. Earlier, NSG commandos had failed primarily because they could not locate the hidden enemy.

“Elite forces such as NSG are mission specific-forces. They are meant for surgical combat operations and their expertise lie in the lightening strike they make. The object of strike must be defined to them”, says M P Bhagat, IG (Operation), NSG.

“Before the elite forces are airdropped for close encounter, dummy choppers can be used to distract the bandit”, says expert.

The experts also feel that a nighttime attack against Veerappan will be more effective. Night vision equipment will give a technological edge to security forces while identifying the enemy and keeping the hostage safe.

Developed during World War II, the night vision equipment was successfully used in Vietnam, against Khmer Rouge in Combodia, Mogadishu, Somalia and Bosnia to detect rebel groups and enemies deep inside the forest...more