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Govindraj rules out commando action

Fakir Chand in Bangalore

S A Govindraj, the 51-year-old son in-law of Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajakumar, who was released by forest brigand Veerappan on Monday evening, has ruled out any attempt by the authorities to use commandos to rescue the remaining two hostages as "that would only endanger their precious lives".

A weak and frail Govindraj, who reached Bangalore early on Tuesday, from Erode, told a crowded media conference that Veerappan would certainly release Rajakumar and Nagesh, only after 51 Terrorist And Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act detenues and five Tamil extremists were freed from jails in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu respectively.

"He (Veerappan) is very adamant on this demand. His contention is that the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu state governments had committed to him on meeting his main demand. Until his associates were freed, he would not be able to release his prize catch (Annavaru)," Govindraj said.

Actor Shivrajkumar, the eldest son of Rajakumar, concurred with Govindraj, that storming of Veerappan's hideout was ruled out as it would be risky to the lives of the hostages.

Govindraj said he was forced to leave the company of his father-in-law, who insisted that he return to Bangalore as he was not keeping good health. "I am a diabetic and a heart patient. Even now, I am very weak and am suffering from high blood pressure," Govindraj lamented.

On whether he brought any cassette or message from Rajakumar or Veerappan to their family or the state government, Govindraj said he was not given anything by the bandit king, but only encouraging words from the thespian that "he will come back soon and that nobody should be unduly worried about him as he was keeping good health, apart from being in good spirits."

Govindraj also pleaded ignorance on the latest demand of Veerappan that was said to have been conveyed by him to the four emissaries led by Tamil activist P Nedumaran and Nakeeran editor R R Gopal that both state governments desist from launching any commando operation to nab him after he released Rajakumar and Nagesh.

"I have no idea what transpired between them, though I came out of the forest along with the emissaries. I decided to go to Bangalore by road after dinner at Erode, while the four emissaries have headed to Madras to meet Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi around the same time," Govindraj claimed.

Govindraj disclosed that he left Veerappan's lair with the emissaries around 1700 hours IST on Monday and reached Erode by 1930 hours.

Confirming the sensational escape of assistant film director Nagappa Mardagi from the forest, Govindraj denied that there was any altercation with Veerappan as "none of us knew of his daring act that took place when everybody was sleeping in a make-shift tent''.

"There was no fight or attack by even Veerappan's accomplices as no one was avare of what Nagappa was up to. We discovered much later in the morning. Though Veerappan was cut-up by the sudden development, he did not harm either Rajakumar or me," Govindraj claimed.

Govindraj also said that the hostages were shifted almost every other day and that they had pitched their tents in around 35-40 places in the dense forests, spawning 6,000 km.

Earlier, Govindraj went to the chief minister's house along with Rajakumar's three sons for a breakfast meeting. "I have told the chief minister everything about the hostage crisis, Rajakumar's health and Veerappan's stand.''

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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