The Karnataka forest department paid a remarkable tribute to a daring martyr, Indian Forest Service (IFS) officer P Srinivas, who was beheaded by notorious forest brigand Veerappan in 1991, by restoring his jeep into running condition and turning it into a souvenir.

 

Notably, this was the same jeep that Srinivas rode during the anti-Veerappan operation in the Kollegal and Chamarajanagar forests.

 

This Srinivas’ official vehicle has been kept at the Kollegal forest department office, where a museum has also been created with photographs, letters, documents, and write-ups of Srinivas. It was recently inaugurated by Chamarajanagar district minister, V. Somanna.

 

"This is the first such tribute to a martyred forest officer anywhere in India." We thought this was the best way to honour Srinivas, who was a Keerthi Chakra recipient in 1992. His jeep was lying abandoned at the Karnataka range forest office in Palar, bordering Tamil Nadu. We spent Rs 1.1 lakh to repair it and to restore it to running condition. We then put it up as the souvenir," said MM Hills Wildlife Sanctuary Director V Yedukondalu.

 

 

 

For the unreserved, Srinivas was the first and only person to arrest Veerappan in 1986 while the SAARC Summit was in progress at Bengaluru. Veerappan was brought to Budipadaga Forest Rest House in Chamarajanagar Division for interrogation. However, when Srinivas was out on one of these raids, Veerappan managed to escape from custody. During that time, Srinivas was the deputy conservator of forests, Chamarajanagar, and the assistant commander in the Special Task Force formed to capture Veerappan back then.

 

After that, Srinivas formed a team of locals to help nab Veerappan. Srinivas went above and beyond his line of duty to nab the dreaded Veerappan. He went on to stay in Gopinatham, Veerappan's native village, and built a temple there to win over the villagers who were sympathetic towards the criminal. Srinivas wanted to persuade Veerappan to surrender, but the forest brigand had other plans.

 

Under the false pretence of surrendering, Veerappan invited Srinivas and beheaded him on November 10, 1991. Srinivas's head was not found, but his body, bearing the marks of Veerappan's torture, was recovered.

 

On 26 January 1992, Srinivas was posthumously awarded the second highest peacetime gallantry award, the Kirti Chakra.

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