ERODE: The Tamil Nadu Pazhangudi Makkal Sangam has strongly opposed the State Government's decision to appoint former DGP Dawaram as chief of the Special Task Force (STF), now engaged in nabbing forest brigand Veerappan.

Association president V P Gunasekaran, in a memorandum to Chief Minister J Jayalalitha, has cited the harassment meted out to several tribals when Dawaram led the operation in the past. In fact, over 120 persons deposed before the Sadhasiva panel, appointed by the NHRC, to go into the atrocities committed on them by the STF when Dawaram headed it.

He faulted the government for appointing Dawaram while there were several efficient officers in the TN police force. He urged her to give a direction to the STF not to repeat the same mistakes committed by the STF in the past.

Gunasekaran also requested the Chief Minister to take steps to speed up the Sadhasiva inquiry commission to provide compensation to the affected people without delay.He suggested that the co-operation of the people of Sathy, Bargur, Thalavadi and Ooty should be sought to nab Veerappan.