Cop Chandrappa, anti-Veerappan operation hero passes away

Mention anti-Veerappan operation, and the name of senior police officer Chandrappa flips through the mind, as he was the survivor of infamous Hogenakkal shoot out incident that occurred on the border of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu States on April 9, 1990.

Chandrappa (58) passed away owing to multiple ailments at an hospital in Bangalore on Wednesday. He was serving in the cadre of Dy SP at the office of police commissioner, Bangalore.

He served most of his years in Mysore district, before moving to Bangalore as ACP (Yeshwanthpura sub-division) in the year 2008.

Gunned down

Veerappan was little known to the people of Mysore until four officials from Mysore were gunned down in Hogenakkal falls shoot out.

Sub-inspectors Jagannath (Vidyaranyapuram), Dinesh (M M Hills) and Ramalingu (Mysore district) and Shankar Rao (DAR police constable) were the police officials killed, while sub-inspectors Chandrappa and Krishne Urs, special branch police constable Mallanna, driver Sheshappa and a forest guard and KSRP constable survived the attack with bullet injuries.

Out of action

Chandrappa who had received five bullets in his abdomen and shoulder, had remained out of action for sometime till he returned to duty. 

He was treated at St John’s Hospital in Bangalore. While four bullets had been removed, a bullet still remains inside him, a reason that caused sapping of his energy in the recent days.

A native of Matanahalli on the border of Hassan and Tumkur districts, Chandrappa joined the police services in the year 1980. 

Career

After customary foundation training, he started his career as sub-inspector in the year 1982 from Saraswatipuram police station.

He was later transferred to Kuderu police station in Chamarajanagar (undivided Mysore district) in the year 1984, only to make a comeback to Mysore city.

As a sub-inspector of K R Police Station, he was deputed to anti-Veerappan operation, from where he shot to limelight.

He was among the 10 police personnel who had gone picnicking at Hogenakkal on that ill-fated day, only to fall victim to Veerappan and his 29 member gang who launched an attack (crime number 15/90 MM Hills police station) around 5 pm.

 Chandrappa was awarded President’s Gold Medal for his gallantry in the incident. He was promoted as inspector in the year 1995 and Dy SP in 2008.

Films, theatre

Chandrappa had acted in three Kannada films including Gandhadagudi part-II starring Shivarajkumar. He had also acted in many plays too.

Condolences

No sooner the news of Chandrappa’s death reached the city, most of his contemporaries and friends left for his Bangalore residence. DySP (retd) Rangaswamy recalled Chandrappa being an upright officer. Mallanna who had also suffered four bullet injuries in Hogenakkal attack, described his former boss as an affable officer who was known for his discipline.

Funeral

Last rites will be conducted on Thursday at 11 am at his native place. He leaves behind his wife Vanaja, daughters Vinutha, Pooja and Chandana and son Rakshit.