Karunanidhi rejects Veerappan's demands

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi on Friday ruled out the possibility of the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments conceding to fresh demands made by sandalwood smuggler Veerappan after he released eight Karnataka forest personnel.

It was impossible to agree to Veerappan's demands that he should not be made to stand judicial trial or be imprisoned for more than two years, Karunanidhi said. Reports that the government had accepted Veerappan's demand for general amnesty and another Rs 50 million were "misleading and confusing," the chief minister added.

"We are very clear that he should surrender and abide by the law of the land," he said.

Karunanidhi said the state government was planning to honour Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal for securing the release of the nine Karnataka forest personnel from Veerappan's custody.

EARLIER REPORT:
Veerappan decides he won't surrender