The Karnataka Special Task Force on Wednesday night arrested two men who allegedly played a key role in the abduction of Janata Dal-United leader H Nagappa by forest brigand Veerappan.
Joseph alias Meenukar Joseph and Savariyappa alias Kone Savariappa had confessed that they were involved in the crime, police said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, the STF also stepped up the hunt in Ponnachi forest area following information about the bandit's movement since Wednesday night.
Karnataka Director General of Police T Madiyal said in Bangalore that the joint STF of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu mounted a combing operation in and around Konanakere in the Ponnachi forest area.
He, however, denied that an encounter had taken place between the STF and the fugitive.
