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TV channels to go off the air in Karnataka on Wednesday

Fakir Chand in Bangalore

In a show of solidarity with abducted Kannada matinee idol Rajakumar, who has been a captive of forest brigand Veerappan for 50 days now, cable operators across Karnataka have decided to go off the air on Wednesday.

Announcing this in Bangalore on Monday, Karnataka Cable and Video Operators' Association general secretary M R Amruth Kumar said leading cable and video operators had decided to shut shop and stop relaying any channels, including Doordarshan, on September 20.

"Leading cable and video operators want to express solidarity with Rajakumar, who has still not been released by the outlaw though eight weeks have passed since he was kidnapped from his home town Gajanur. We can't keep quiet anymore. We protest against this inordinate delay in securing his release," Kumar lamented.

The operators have also demanded that the Centre intervene immediately and rescue their 'Annavaru' from the clutches of the bandit. "We will submit a memorandum to Governor V S Rama Devi on Wednesday, protesting against the delay, and seeking early intervention by Delhi," Kumar asserted.

In a related development, the Karnataka Film Chamber of Commerce has decided to resume shooting activities after a 50-day self-imposed ban on film production. The industry had shut down operations a day after Rajakumar was abducted.

Though cinema halls in the city reopened on September 1 after it became clear that the star's release could take longer because of the protracted legal battle, the KFCC continued with its protest strike, which has cost the industry more than Rs 2,500 million.

KFCC president K C N Chandrashekhar said its action committee would, however, meet from time to time to review its plans. "We are not giving up the struggle to get Dr Rajakumar released," he said.

The film industry is also planning to meet Prime Minister A B Vajpayee on his return from the United States, as well as other Union ministers, to put pressure on the Centre to intervene and secure the actor's early release.

The industry is likely to call for a Karnataka bandh soon if Rajakumar is not released quickly.

Film Industry Workers Union president Ashok said the 50-day strike had affected the livelihood of daily-wage earners. "We did not anticipate that the hostage crisis will drag on for so many days," he said.

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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