Search the Internet          Tips

Supporters of Nagappa establish contact with Veerappan

Sadananda R in Chamarajanagar

The supporters of the abducted former Karnataka minister H Nagappa have established contact with forest brigand Veerappan, police and intelligence sources told rediff.com.

Leaders belonging to Nagappa's Janata Dal-United, however, refused to confirm the report.

But sources said the supporters of Nagappa had used the JD-U network in villages around the Sathyamangalam forest range to establish contact.

"They contacted him with the help of cowherds who venture deep into the forest every day to graze their cattle," one source said.

The source said a cowherd, who had earlier spotted Veerappan with his hostage at a place near the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border, was sent to the forest brigand, with medicines [for Nagappa] and a message.

The brigand, in turn, has demanded a ransom of Rs 100 million and Kollathur Mani to be sent to him as an emissary, the source added.

Veerappan has been refusing to accept any other emissary other than Mani.

The sources said soon as the message was conveyed to the JD-U leaders they rushed to Chief Minister S M Krishna, who met the leaders for about an hour behind closed doors.

The leaders, after the meeting, appeared confident of a solution.

The sources said the leaders pressed Krishna to contact Union Defence Minister George Fernandes to get in touch with Pattali Makkal Katchi leader Dr S Ramadoss, who reportedly enjoys a 'special relationship' with Veerappan. Both belong to the Vanniyar community.

State Home Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge said the chief minister will call Fernandes soon to ask for his help in resolving the crisis.

The JD-U leaders, on their part, have already contacted Fernandes through Srinivas Prasad, the Chamarajnagar MP and the Samata Party Karnataka unit president. Fernandes belongs to Samata Party.

In an interesting development, KollathurMani's lawyer has moved the Karnataka high court seeking his bail. Mani has been charged with supplying arms and ammunition to Veerappan.

Meanwhile, several MLAs, cutting across party lines, belonging to the Lingayat community have pressured the government to act soon to end the hostage crisis.

Though the JD-U MLAs have been more vocal in their demand, the Congress MLA's have also put pressure, albeit silently.

Krishna belongs to the Vokkaliga community, the rival community of the Lingayats.

The Nagappa Abduction: Complete coverage
The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report