M A I N   N E W S

Rajkumar released

BANGALORE, Nov 15 (PTI) — In a sudden development, Kannada superstar Rajkumar, held hostage for 109 days by forest brigand Veerappan demanding release of his associates jailed in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, was freed along with another hostage, Nagesh, apparently without the outlaw’s major conditions being met.

Seventytwo-year-old Rajkumar, a veteran of over 300 films in Kannada and adored by millions for his acting and singing talents, was released this morning, Karnataka Law Minister D.B. Chandre Gowda told reporters here.

The thespian, not exactly in good health, was kept in transit camps and shifted frequently during the captivity in the Satyamangalam forests in Erode district in Tamil Nadu.

Confirming the development, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said in Chennai that Rajkumar spoke to him over phone and was heading for Bangalore. Tamil National Movement leader P. Nedumaran, one of the emissaries who had gone to the jungles to negotiate the release, also spoke to Mr Karunanidhi.

Mr Gowda said Rajkumar spoke to him over phone from Erode in Tamil Nadu, about 500 km from Bangalore, where he was proceeding to after a medical check-up.

Mr Karunanidhi said Rajkumar would visit Chennai after a couple of days to thank him for efforts to secure his release.

The abduction of Rajkumar on July 30 from his house in Gajanur in Tamil Nadu along with three others, which created law and order problems in Karnataka, mainly in the capital, got prolonged with the Supreme Court firmly setting its foot against the deal entered into by the two governments with Veerappan for release of TADA detainees and Tamil extremists in exchange for the hostages.

One of the hostages, Nagappa Maradagi, an assistant director, escaped from the forests on September 28 while another captive and Rajkumar’s son-in-law S.A. Govindaraju was released by the outlaw on October 15 on health grounds.

The Rajkumar episode is the longest abduction drama by the camouflage-clad, mustachioed bandit, who is charged with over 100 killings and slaughter of about 2000 elephants for their tusks and smuggling of ivory. It was also his ninth kidnap venture.

Soon after the kidnap, Chief Ministers of the two states met and decided to start negotiations with the brigand now in the company of Tamil extremist forces through the editor of Tamil magazine Nakheeran R. Gopal, who had negotiated with Veerappan on earlier occasions.

Gopal went to the jungles on negotiation missions five times and later was joined by Nedumaran on the insistence of Veerappan. However, on the current successful mission Nedumaran went alone. On the two earlier occasions, Nedumaran was also accompanied by civil rights activists Sukumaran and Kalyani.The court also rejected Karnataka’s stand that the decision for releasing TADA detainees was taken in public interest as there were apprehensions of large-scale violence against Tamils in Karnataka if Rajkumar was harmed.

A government that cannot protect the lives and property of people should have to go, the court said.

Notwithstanding the court observations the two governments stuck to the path of negotiations even if they appeared to be prolonging without results.

It virtually appeared to be the end of the road last week after the Supreme Court judgement but Nedumaran was despatched on what turned out to be a successful mission.

Even this last venture was preceded by a drama when Nedumaran refused to undertake the mission after allegations were levelled against him that he was an anti-national and that he indulged in “subversive” activities during his earlier trip to the jungles.

The two governments also appeared to be constrained by the persistent demand of the actor’s family that there should be no commando operation to rescue him.