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Rajakumar family on standby
as release is 'imminent'

Fakir Chand in Bangalore

With the latest round of negotiations between state emissaries and forest brigand Veerappan getting underway on Saturday in the Satymangalam jungles in Tamil Nadu, the 75-day long hostage crisis involving the abduction of Kannada film icon Dr Rajakumar has entered a decisive stage.

The sudden departure of Rajakumar's wife Parvathamma and their three sons to Madras on Friday night has given rise to hopes of Veerappan releasing his hostages this time.

Sources said Rajakumar's release was imminent in two to three days.

Their assessment is based on information provided by sources close to the new emissaries -- Tamil separatist P Nedumaran and two others who had entered the forest along with the other emissary, R R Gopal.

"The family has been asked to be present in Madras in advance to receive Rajakumar and two others, who are expected to be taken first to Madras by the emissaries, after their release from the jungles," the sources told rediff.com on Saturday night.

The fact that Veerappan asked Nedumaran to join negotiations proves that an 'out-of-court' settlement is likely even without waiting for the outcome of a protracted legal battle in the Supreme Court for the release of 51 Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act detenues and five Tamil extremists from jail, the main demand the outlaw made in exchange of Kannada thespian's freedom.

It is learnt that Veerappan will extract an assurance from Nedumaran that the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka would not use force to nab him once Rajakumar is released and that the people (read tribals) dwelling in the forest range would not be harassed in seeking information on his whereabouts from them.

As Tamil Nadu and Karnataka may leave nothing to chance in going after him for a kill, Veerappan wants to ensure not only his safety, but also that of his gang members, besides thousands of his 'sympathisers'.

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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