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Veerappan's former cellmate among several offering to mediate

"I am sure Veerappan will remember me," says Muneer, otherwise known as Gun Muneer, of Bangalore. "We both spent a night together in the same lockup in Upparpet police station in Bangalore fifteen years ago."

Muneer has finally found a reason to be glad of at least one of the many nights he has spent in police lockups and hopes it will bring him a few moments of glory.

"That was the only time Veerappan was in police custody. How can he forget it? I now want to remind Veerappan of that old association and offer my services as an emissary. I would like to be sent into the forest to meet him and plead with him to release poor Nagappa."

At least half a dozen men have come forward in Karnataka offering to negotiate with Veerappan for Nagappa's release. Like Muneer, each of them has had some sort of association with the bandit over the years, but have never actually met him.

Advocate S Venugopal of Mysore, who had represented Veerappan's brother Arjunan and close friends Iyyan Durai and Karangalooru Rangaswami in come court cases almost a decade ago, is one of them.

"I have got several of Veerappan's associates arrested under the Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) released without charging even a single rupee," says Venugopal.

"Kolathoor Mani (a sympathiser of Veerappan) even honoured me at a public ceremony. If the government wants, I am ready to be an emissary," he offered.

Subbukrishna, another advocate practising at the Mysore high court, has offered his services as an emissary. He too has represented some persons known to Veerappan.

Amruthesh, a lawyer from Mysore, is volunteering his services even though he has had no connection with the bandit or anyone associated with him.

Another name suggested by the advocates' association of Kollegal is lawyer Mallikarjuniah (70). The association's president Narendra is none other than the son of Nagappa's political rival, G Raju Gowda. It is alleged that Gowda has some connection with Veerappan, which he denies vehemently.

Bangalore Police Commissioner H T Sangliana has an open mind on such offers.

"We should encourage all individuals who want to enter the forest on their own, meet Veerappan and persuade him to free Nagappa," says Sangliana. "After all, what have we to lose?"

H Nagappa Abduction: Complete coverage
The Abduction of Dr Rajakumar
The Hunt for Veerappan

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