Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand
Page 26
I wanted this book to read like a thriller. I thank Sharvani Pandit, editor, Red Ink Literary Agency who made a vital contribution in helping me to towards that end.
Special thanks to Rupa Publications’ Kapish Mehra who, in the first meeting itself, made a dozen very useful suggestions and many more later. Also for getting this book fast-tracked. So also Rupa’s editors Yamini Chowdhury and Amrita Mukerji who led my final charge. I thank both of them for polite but firm interventions and hard work, especially around New Year’s Eve, and for tolerating my eleventh-hour alterations.
Finally, to the Karnataka STF who, as I have said before, deserve as much credit as their Tamil Nadu counterparts for the success of Operation Cocoon, from where the journey of this book began.
Demanding yet exciting times with the SPG (1986): With the then Prime Minister (late) Shri Rajiv Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and leaders of the CPT, R.R.P.N. Sahi and Ravi Sawani (partially seen)
Dancing to the tunes of Rossie and Whitney Houston (1986): Behind Gosain and Tikku (third from right)
A united force across divided waters (1993): In a coracle with my buddy Sundaram
Saluting a brave heart (1996): Paying homage to (late) Head Constable Selvaraj. Ashok Kumar (far left in white shirt) Sanjay Arora (3rd from left) DIG Radhakrishnan, Shankar Bidari, ADG Kumarasamy and DGP Walter Davaram
Winners never quit, quitters never win (1999): (from left to right) Hussain, Rajarajan and Kannan on a dry riverbed
Fighting fit (2003): Sitting in a jungle camp with the alert and agile mini-team
Forging a ‘joint team’ with the Karnataka STF (2003): (From left) SP Shanmughavel, DSP Ashok Kumar, me, IG Mirji, SP Madhukar Shetty
A solemn oath in the New Year (2004): At the STF memorial at Thattakarai
Before the final assault (2004): On a recce during Operation Inundation (standing in the centre)
The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war (2004): Briefing the men before the ‘one-minute drills’
Leading the charge (2004): Tracking the ‘wired nomad’ with Kannan and Hussain
It’s a jungle out there (2004): A quick update next to the green sheet that was a bed sheet, blanket, holdall and roof, all rolled into one.
Battle hardy (2004): Cocoon, after the shootout, with the misspelt word ‘Selam’ (instead of Salem).
Mission accomplished (2004): The STF erupts in celebration after the success of Operation Cocoon
Felicitations after Operation Cocoon (2004): (from left) ADG R. Nataraj, me, DGP I.K. Govind, then Chief Minister (late) J Jayalalithaa and senior officials
At home (2008): (from left) Son Arjun, me, son-in-law Deepak Menon, daughter Ashwini, wife Meena, daughter-in-law Dr Gita Arjun and grandkids Aditya and Adhvai