{{Short description|Landmine attack on 9 April 1993 in Karnataka, India}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Use Indian English|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox event | title = Palar Blast | image = Palar Blast, Karnataka.jpg | image_size = 200px | date = {{start date|df=yes|1993|04|09}} | coordinates = {{coord|11.958|77.644|region:IN_type:event|display=inline,title}} | cause = IED Landmine | reported deaths = 22 | reported injuries = 13 | accused = Veerappan<br>Muthulakshmi<br>Kolathur Mani<br>S. Sivasubramaniam<br>Savaraiyappan<br>Papathi<br>Bonda Basava<br>Eranna, etc. | website = <!-- {{URL|example.com}} --> }} The '''Palar Blast''' was a landmine attack on 9 April 1993 in Karnataka, India. The attack, organized by the forest brigand Veerappan, killed 22 people, making it the deadliest explosive attack in Karnataka during the 20th century.
==Background== The sandalwood smuggler and criminal Veerappan killed a Bandari in Govindapadi village of Mettur on 8, April 1993, suspecting him to be a police informer and openly challenged the police force to track and arrest his gang.<ref name=palar>{{cite news|last=Aravind|first=H.M.|title=Why Veerappan planned the Palar blast|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mysore/Why-Veerappan-planned-the-Palar-blast/articleshow/18493078.cms|access-date=17 February 2013|date=14 February 2013|archive-date=2 June 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602162807/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-14/mysore/37099133_1_veerappan-gang-karnataka-stf-palar-blast|newspaper=The Times of India|url-status=live}}</ref> He also claimed he would raise a banner at Kolathur village on shandy day, written in Tamil language challenging "Rambo" Gopalakrishnan, the Tamil Nadu police officer, who also belonged to Veerappan's caste.<ref name=planner/> Months prior to this Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had formed a joint Special Task Force, with one of their objectives being to track down Veerappan.
Taking the open challenge, IPS officer K. Gopalakrishnan left Palar base of the area's Special Task Force, near M. M. Hills, 100 km from Kollegal of Karnataka along with a team of 41 members which included police from two states, forest officials, forest watchers and informers.<ref name=palar/> The team left in two vehicles, of which one was a bus carrying most of the team members, and a jeep carrying K. Goplakrishnan, the IPS officer, who stood on the footboard of the jeep watching the road ahead.<ref name=hindu1>{{cite news | last =V.S. | first =Palaniyappan | title =Though delayed, rejection of mercy petition gives some satisfaction | newspaper =The Hindu | date =14 February 2013 | url =http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/though-delayed-rejection-of-mercy-petition-gives-some-satisfaction/article4412449.ece | access-date =19 February 2013 | archive-date =17 February 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130217011540/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/though-delayed-rejection-of-mercy-petition-gives-some-satisfaction/article4412449.ece | url-status =live }}</ref> The Veerappan gang had planted IED landmines on the road in more than 14 places to halt their approach.<ref name=palar/>
==Incident== As the bus was passing over the landmines, Simon Madaiah detonated the gelatin sticks just outside the town of Surakkamaduvu, resulting in an explosion that threw the bus hundreds of feet away and killed 22 people.<ref name=palar/><ref name=penalty>{{cite news|last=Manjesh|first=Sindhu|title=Veerappan's associates to move Karnataka High Court against execution of death penalty|url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/veerappan-s-associates-to-move-karnataka-high-court-against-execution-of-death-penalty-331254|access-date=17 February 2013|newspaper=NDTV|date=15 February 2013|archive-date=17 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217070256/http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/veerappan-s-associates-to-move-karnataka-high-court-against-execution-of-death-penalty-331254|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=planner>{{cite news | last =B | first =Sreekantaswamy | title =A master planner and master blaster cut short 22 lives | newspaper =Deccan Herald | date =23 February 2013 | url =http://www.deccanherald.com/content/314438/a-master-planner-master-blaster.html | access-date =1 March 2013 | archive-date =27 February 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130227022345/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/314438/a-master-planner-master-blaster.html | url-status =live }}</ref> Madaiah sustained minor injuries during the incident but escaped in the forest.<ref name=planner/> Among the deceased were five policemen of Tamil Nadu, 17 forest officials and informers, while 13 other members of the team, including Karnataka police, were injured.<ref name=palar/> Members of the Veerappan gang then fired on the team from a vantage point in the forest. The police returned fire in self-protection and to prevent the outlaws from stealing the team's arms and ammunition.<ref name=palar/>
Tamil Nadu IPS officer K. Gopalakrishnan, who was standing on the footboard of the jeep, was thrown out during the explosion. He suffered severe injuries to his head and legs and required nine surgeries. He returned to duty after 18 months and later retired as DIG in 2008. He witnessed several members of the gang including Madhaiayan, Gnanaprakasam, Simon and Bilavendran at the blast site. His eye witness testimony was crucial in prosecuting those members responsible for the blast.<ref name=deccan>{{cite news | last =DNHS | title =Ex-cop lauds prez decision to reject mercy plea of Veerappan aides | newspaper =Deccan Herald | date =14 February 2013 | url =http://www.deccanherald.com/content/312221/ex-cop-lauds-prez-decision.html | access-date =19 February 2013 | archive-date =25 May 2013 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130525153955/http://www.deccanherald.com/content/312221/ex-cop-lauds-prez-decision.html | url-status =live }}</ref><ref name=gopal>{{cite news | last =S | first =Karthick | title =Veerappan targeted me for 4 years: K Gopalakrishnan| date =14 February 2013 | url = https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Veerappan-targeted-me-for-4-years-K-Gopalakrishnan/articleshow/18493074.cms| archive-url = https://archive.today/20130411043759/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-14/chennai/37098910_1_veerappan-brigand-govindapadi| url-status = live| archive-date = 11 April 2013| newspaper =The Times of India |access-date=19 February 2013}}</ref>
==Aftermath== Police filed a case at M. M. Hills Police Station against 124 persons under TADA in connection with the blast and 50 were arrested by police.<ref name=bbc1>{{cite news|title=Indian president 'rejects mercy plea' for Veerappan gang accused|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21450046|access-date=17 February 2013|newspaper=BBC News Asia bbc.co.uk|date=13 February 2013|archive-date=16 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216054210/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-21450046|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=hindu1/><ref name=palar/><ref name=planner/> The accused included Veerappan, Muthulakshmi, Kolathur Mani, and reporter S. Sivasubramaniam. Muthulakshmi, wife of Veerappan as well as Kolathur Mani, a Tamil activist were acquitted.<ref name=acquit>{{cite news | title =Muthulakshmi acquitted in Palar bomb blast case | newspaper =The Hindu | date =17 March 2011 | url =http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article1545395.ece?css=print | access-date =1 March 2013 | archive-date =11 November 2020 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20201111070111/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/Muthulakshmi-acquitted-in-Palar-bomb-blast-case/article14950243.ece?css=print | url-status =live }}</ref> Seven members of Veerappan's gang were convicted and awarded with life term sentences.<ref name=hindu1/> A later appeal at the Supreme Court by four of the members, would see these life sentences changed to the death penalty, a rare occurrence.<ref name=bbc1/> The four convicts; Jnanaprakash (Veerappan's elder brother), Bilavendran, Simon and Meesekar Madaiah, filed against execution of their death penalties at Karnataka High Court.<ref name=penalty/>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Terrorist incidents in India in 1993 Category:1993 in India Category:Organised crime events in India Category:1993 mass murders Category:1990s in Karnataka Category:Chamarajanagar district Category:Crime in Karnataka