Bangalore: He was a brave police officer who lived with nearly 40 pellets in his head and two bullets in his body for almost 23 years. The story of this courageous officer, an Assistant Commissioner of Police of the Anti-Terrorist Cell, who breathed his last due to cancer on October 2, Wednesday, two years ahead of his retirement,is indeed inspiring.
M.N. Chandrappa(58) who hailed from Tumkur, was a sub-inspector in the year 1990 when he was deputed to the Male Mahadeshwara Hills to hunt for the notorious poacher Veerappan. April 9 that year was a fateful day in the life of Chandrappa when the jeep in which he and his colleagues who went in search of the forest brigand following a tip off, was ambushed by Veerappan and forty of his associates. If three SIs namely Jagannath, Dinesh and Ramalingu and KSRP constable Shanker Rao died in the attack, SIs Chandrappa, Krishne URS and police constable Mallappa survived. Of the total of four bullets which had entered Chandrappa’s body two were removed, while two other bullets and 40 pellets could not be removed by the doctors who operated on him. In fact one of the bullets had pierced close to his heart. The incident had taken place about two kms away from Hogenakkal Falls.
A brave officer Chandrappa lived with the bullets in his body and was even promoted ACP. But two years ago, he was diagnosed with cancer possibly because of the heavy metal exposures. Doctors could not even do an MRI scan of his head as there were chances of the pellets in his head exploding during the scan.
He was also a recipient of President’s medal for Gallantry service. He was a 1981 batch officer and joined the department as a sub-inspector. This attack by Veerappan was the first such mass attack on policemen in the history of Karnataka police. Following this the government took steps to strengthen STF.
