M A I N   N E W S

Some Veerappan demands ‘met’

CHENNAI, Nov 17 (ANI) — Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi disclosed for the first time on Friday that forest brigand Veerappan had released Kannada actor Rajkumar on the assurances given by Tamil National Movement leader P. Nedumaran that some of his demands would be met. He, however, did not give any specific details.

Taking to mediapersons here, Mr Karunanidhi parried questions on the future course of action against Veerappan and the details of the meeting he had with emissary RR Gopal and Nedumaran.

Asked whether Rajkumar would come to Chennai to meet him, the Chief Minister said Rajkumar had stated that he would come but he does not know when.

PTI adds: Kannada filmstar Rajkumar was released on the assurance by emissaries to forest brigand Veerappan that they would ensure the release of 51 TADA prisoners in Karnataka and seven extremists in Tamil Nadu through legal means, main emissary P. Nedumaran said today.

“The release was solely made possible by the trust reposed in us by Veerappan”, Nedumaran, leader of the Tamils National Movement, told a press conference here in the company of other negotiators Prof Kalyani and G. Sukumaran.

He said Karnataka was setting up a special court to try the outlaw’s 121 suspected associates (among them,70 are on bail) and an early trial was possible. They had taken the responsibility to pursue the cases in Tamil Nadu too, he said.

While working for acquittal, they would also seek bail on behalf of the accused in individual cases, as the Supreme Court verdict had kept this avenue open to the accused, Mr Nedumaran said.

Denying that the LTTE had any role in the sudden end to the 108-day kidnap drama, Mr Nedumaran said they had convinced the abductors that their demands pertaining to the Cauvery water dispute and higher wages for tea estate workers were being taken care of by legal mechanisms.

Denying that “any” deal was struck, he said as per his knowledge no ransom had been paid to secure the actor’s release. There was no LTTE angle to it at all, he added.

Meanwhile, Veerappan and his Tamil extremist associates today justified the abduction of Kannada film actor Rajkumar describing it as a “shock treatment” to Tamil Nadu and Karnataka and to seek guarantees for Tamils in Karnataka.

NEW DELHI: A petitioner in the Veerappan case before the Supreme Court has demanded the immediate launching of the “most vigorous and effective drive to hunt down and capture the forest brigand.”

In a letter to the Chief Secretaries of the Governments of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, Dr B.L. Wadhera said they should in cooperation with the Centre “immediately and without loss of even a day, launch the most vigorous and effective drive to hunt down and capture brigand Veerappan and his gang.”

Rs 10-cr relief for STF victims

NEW DELHI, Nov 17 (PTI) — Key emissary P. Nedumaran tonight said one factor which ensured Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar’s release by forest brigand Veerappan was the acceptance by Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments to pay compensation to the victims of Special Task Force (STF) in its drive against the outlaw.

“Yes some of the demands have been accepted ..... about the compensation to be given to STF victims along Tamil Nadu and Karnataka borders”, he told Zee News when asked whether cine star’s release was ensured following conceding of some of the demands of Veerappan.