Mysore/Mysuru: Former CRPF IGP K. Arakesh said that retired Police Officer P. Venkataswamy, who passed away recently, was the first Police officer to file a case of murder against forest Brigand Veerappan over forty years ago as a Police Sub-Inspector then.

He was speaking at P. Venkataswamy condolence prog. organised at Negilayogi Maruleshwara Seva Bhavan in Jayanagar here yesterday.Venkataswamy had served as Mysuru  Additional SP over seven years ago.

Recalling his association with Venkataswamy when he (Arkesh) was deputed to the Special Task Force for nabbing dreaded poacher Veerappan, Arkesh said that although people suspected Venkatawamy of colluding with Veerappan in the beginning, it turned out later that it was Venkataswamy who took the lead in gathering intelligence inputs about the movements of Veerappan. Recalling an incident where Venkataswamy went to Coimbatore Jail and met Abdul Madani, an accused in the 1998 Coimbatore serial blasts case and gathered information from him about the activities of  Koose Madayyan, a close associate of Veerappan, who was also lodged in the jail, Arkesh said that Venkataswamy had the uncanny knack of getting tip-offs on the activities of Veerappan.

Reflecting on another incident wherein Veerappan and his gang members had killed a student suspecting him to be a Police informant, Arkesh said  that Venkataswamy had come up with a plan to counter Veerappan, which unfortunately did not succeed. Noting that Venkataswamy was a friendly person, the former CRPF IGP recalled that Venkataswamy was also a voracious reader and following his request, he had despatched a book written by Devanur Mahadeva and other books on Gandhiji. He further said that Venkataswamy was a committed Police officer who never failed in discharging his duties.

Negilayogi Samaja Seva Trust Honorary President Prof. K.R. Rangaiah said that although he was not a colleague of Venkataswamy, he came in touch with the Police officer during wrestling events. 

Recalling his association with the Police officer in organising  many wrestling bouts in city, he said that his demise is not only a loss for the Police Department, but also to the sport of wrestling.

Senior Advocate and Bar Council of India Member C.  Appajigowda, who also spoke, reflected on his association with the Police officer for years.

Dy.SP Gajendra Prasad said that the late Police officer had high regards for his sub-ordinates and all other staff of the Department. Floral tributes were offered to a portrait of Venkataswamy. Former Police Officer J.B. Rangaswamy, Ramu, a relative of Venkataswamy, Hotelier C. Narayanagowda and former MUDA Chairman C. Basavegowda were present.