Bengaluru: The Kannada translation of Veerappan: Chasing The Brigand, by K. Vijay Kumar, who spearheaded the Operation Cocoon that led to the killing of forest brigand, was launched in the city on Sunday.
Titled Veerappan: Danta Chorana Bennatti, it has been translated to Kannada by Dr D.V. Guruprasad, former director general of police.
The book was unveiled by city Police Commissioner Alok Kumar and Lok Sabha member Tejasvi Surya.
The highlight of this launch was when Nagappan Marudagi, who successfully escaped Veerappan’s captivity, narrated his 61- day long ordeal. He said Veerappan was 'wicked minded' and inhuman by nature.
Referring to the contributions made by police officials, Alok Kumar said, “The real leadership is displayed only during a crisis.” We often appreciate the Army, but overlook the contributions of the police force.
Gopal Hosur, the former Inspector General and Head of Karnataka Special Task Force, who was actively involved in the anti-Veerappan operation, recalled how he was ambushed by a large group of bandits and survived after undergoing six surgeries.
He also listed the reasons why it took so long to nab Veerappan. “It took twenty long years and it was a failure of collective police effort. The main reason was that the police failed to gain the trust of the people. We began to terrorise the victims of crime, rather the perpetrators,” he said.
In his address, Mr Surya said, “Just like the armed forces, the police forces also have the same discipline, same challenges and the same management.”
He regretted that people know very little about the sacrifices made by policemen in the line of duty. "Operation Cocoon, is perhaps the greatest operation conducted by the police in the country’s history,” he added.
