Muthulakshmi, the widow of the slain forest brigand Veerappan, on Friday alleged that Special Task Force (STF) personnel, including former DG&IGP Shankar M Bidari, and officers Madhukar Masale, Ashok Kumar, Bava and Kumar Das, abused tribal women physically and mentally during the hunt to nab her husband. She also described Mr Bidari as an “inhuman person with no concern for women whatsoever” and accused him of being a “rapist”.
Addressing reporters, Muthulakshmi said 15 tribal women, including herself, were tortured by STF personnel. “Women were tortured with electric shocks and were also physically abused. They unclothed us and made us stand naked. Mr Bidari even tried to snatch my mangalasutra,” she alleged. Asked if she had any proof of physical abuse by STF personnel, she said she was a living example for all the atrocities.
She also urged the central government to order a CBI investigation into the atrocities committed by the STF personnel. “The very reason we did not speak about this was that we were in fear of losing our lives”, she added. Muthulakshmi said she was not allowed to express her opinion before the Justice A.J. Sadashiva Commission, which probed the alleged atrocities of the STF, as she was in the custody of Tamil Nadu police then.
Referring to the Karnataka High Court striking down the appointment of Mr Bidari as DG&IGP, she said, “It is a good judgment. However, I want the CBI to probe the STF atrocities”. Referring to a film being made on Veerappan, titled ‘Attahasa’ (Kannada) and ‘Vanyudham’ (Tamil version) by M.R. Ramesh, a resident of the city, she said she has filed a plea before the Madras High Court seeking a stay. “The person has no right to make a film about the personal life of my late husband or me. It violates human rights. ”, she said.