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Karnataka drops all cases against Veerappan's associates

The Karnataka government Monday decided to drop all cases against 121 suspected associates of forest brigand Veerappan, who is holding Kannada film icon Dr Rajakumar and three others hostage since July 30.

The government's decision, which meets a major demand of Veerappan, was announced in Bangalore this evening by Chief Minister S M Krishna.

Krishna said, "The government has passed orders to drop all charges against 51 persons (who were released on conditional bail by a Mysore court Monday) and 70 others released on bail earlier".

Journalist-emissary R R Gopal was expected to leave for the jungles late Monday to negotiate the release of Dr Rajakumar and other hostages, he said.

Asked if the government's decision meant that the bandit's associates would not face the charges even under Indian Penal Code also after dropping of Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (prevention) Act cases against them, he replied in the affirmative.

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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