Search the Internet           Tips

Veerappan sends taped message, warns that he is losing patience

Forest brigand Veerappan has warned that he and his associates are losing patience over the delay in their demands being conceded and said whether the hostage crisis ends amicably or otherwise is entirely in the hands of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments.

This message was conveyed through an audio cassette, which was received by P Nedumaran, president of the Tamils' National Movement, in Madras.

Nedumaran's office released the text of the outlaw's taped message, but did not say how the cassette was received from the jungles, a party press release said in Madras.

In his message, Veerappan had declared that he and his associates were indeed 'adamant', as they believed they were espousing a 'revolutionary cause' on behalf of Tamils, especially the oppressed classes.

'We placed 12 demands in good faith, but you are delaying the matter by saying somebody or the other is stalling your actions. There is a limit to our patience. Whether this kidnap issue ends amicably or otherwise is wholly in the hands of the two governments.'

There was no reference in the message to the escape of Nagappa Maradagi, indicating that it (message) could have been taped prior to the incident.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka cabinet on Friday decided to await the return of journalist-emissary R R Gopal, who is holding negotiations with Veerappan, before planning the next course of action to end the Dr Rajakumar abduction crisis.

After a cabinet meeting, held in the backdrop of the escape of one of the hostages, Minister for Information B K Chandrashekar told reporters the cabinet discussed the progress made on efforts to end the crisis.

"The cabinet also discussed the likely fall-out in the wake of the escape of Nagappa," he said, adding the government hoped to hear from Gopal in the next three to four days.

On whether Maradagi, an assistant film director, actually escaped or if he was set free by the outlaw, the minister admitted that 'there are different reports. We need more information.'

However, he hastened to add that 'on the face of it, it (the escape theory) seems to be fairly credible.'

PTI

ALSO SEE
Nagappa to meet Krishna, Parvathamma
Karunanidhi surprised over escape: PTI
Nagappa meets S M Krishna in Bangalore

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report