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TN government awaiting
word from Karnataka

N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai

The Tamil Nadu government is awaiting a word from Karnataka on the message left behind by forest brigand Veerappan after Sunday night's abduction of former minister H Nagappa.

Tamil Nadu may not want to get involved in the case, if it could help it.

While the last time round when actor Dr Rajakumar was abducted, the Tamil Nadu government could not escape either legal or moral responsibility as the abduction took place in its territory, there is nothing that links the state to the Nagappa kidnapping.

For the present, the state government has alerted the Special Task Force and left it at that.

However, questions remain. The Nagappa abduction comes on the eve of a crucial Cauvery River Authority meeting in New Delhi.

Adequate supply of Cauvery waters to Tamil Nadu by Karnataka was among Veerappan's demands for freeing Dr Rajkumar.

There already are reports of anti-Tamil violence across Karnataka following Nagappa's abduction.

Though palpable tension prevailed throughout the 108-day abduction of Dr Rajkumar, barring early incidents the situation had remained calm. This was probably because of the apprehension expressed by Dr Rajkumar's family that the brigand may take it out on the matinee icon if Tamils were attacked, as was done at the height of the Cauvery dispute in 1993.

Either way, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalitha may have to draw a fine line.

After detaining pan-Tamil leader P Nedumaran under the Prevention of Terrorism Act and over-riding the indemnity granted to 'Nakkeeran' Gopal by interrogating him on the Rajkumar abduction, the Tamil Nadu Government may be helpless if approached by Karnataka for help to resolve the current crisis.

H Nagappa Abduction : Complete coverage

The Abduction of Dr Rajakumar
The Hunt for Veerappan

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