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The Dr Rajakumar kidnap episode

Following is the chronology of important events in the 108-day-old hostage crisis, which ended with the release of Kannada film star Dr Rajakumar by forest brigand Veerappan early on Wednesday.

July 30 - Dr Rajakumar kidnapped from his farm house at Gajanur in Tamil Nadu along with three others.

July 31 - Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal named emissary of the two governments to negotiate with Veerappan.

Aug 1 - Gopal leaves on first mission to Satyamangalam forests.

Aug 5 - Veerappan raises a charter of ten demands, including release of 121 associates, 51 of them Terrorists And Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act detenues in Karnataka, besides five Tamil extremists held in Tamil Nadu.

Aug 6 - Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna rushes to Madras for urgent consultations with his Tamil Nadu counterpart.

Aug 7 - Karnataka government initiates the legal process for release of 121 prisoners.

Aug 11 - Gopal returns with four fresh demands from Veerappan

Aug 14 - Detention under National Security Act of four of five Tamil extremists revoked.

Aug 16 - Gopal leaves on his second mission.

Aug 19 - Designated judge, Mysore, Rajendra Prasad drops charges under TADA against 51 detenues following Karnataka government's decision to this effect; central government approves release of five extremists.

Aug 24 - Gopal returns after second round of talks. Brigand disappointed with the response of the two governments to his demands.

Aug 25 - Krishna and Karunanidhi discuss the brigand's reply to their governments' response to his demands. Veerappan is keen only on two demands - compensation to the victims of alleged Special Task Force atrocities and unconditional release of his associates.

Aug 26 - The two governments set up a corpus fund of Rs 50 million each to meet the compensation demand.

Aug 28 - Gopal leaves on his third mission; Principal and Sessions Judge Rajendra Prasad grants bail to 51 TADA detenues; Supreme Court admits Special Leave Petition by Abdul Kareem, father of police officer Shakeel Ahmed killed by Veerappan gang in 1992.

Aug 29 - Big setback in the hostage crisis; SC directs that none of 115 Veerappan's aides be released on bail or otherwise. Stays the bail order issued by the Mysore court for release of 51 alleged Veerappan associates.

Sep 1 - Apex court indefinitely stays the release of Veerappan's associates; asks Karnataka government to quit for its 'compounding negligence' in apprehending Veerappan for eight long years.

Sep 3 - Tamil Nadu decides to file counter petition in Supreme Court against PIL by two Delhi lawyers opposing extremists' release.

Sep 6 - Gopal returns from the forest empty handed. Meets the two CMs.

Sep 8 - Tamil Nadu and Karnataka CMs hold talks in Bangalore; decide to continue the strategy of negotiations with the brigand.

Sep 19 - SC defers hearing of the Veerappan associates case to October 11.

Sep 20 - Gopal leaves on his fourth mission to the forest; Tamil Nadu in its affidavit before SC blames Karnataka for not informing about Dr Rajakumar's visit to Gajanur farm house.

Sep 24 - The Centre in its affidavit before SC endorses Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments' action in dealing with the crisis. It supports their decision to release Veerappan associates.

Sep 28 - Nagappa, one of the hostages, escapes.

Sep 29 - An angry Veerappan toughens stand, says he will free Dr Rajakumar only if his demand for release of his associates was fully met.

Sep 30 - Gopal draws a blank again.

Oct 10 - In a surprise move, Tamil National Movement leader P Nedumaran and two human rights activists join Gopal in the fifth mission.

Oct 16 - Dr Rajakumar's son-in-law S A Govindaraju freed due to health reasons. SC proceedings on.

Oct 17 - Emissaries return; SC asks Tamil Nadu, Karnataka what steps they had taken to nab Veerappan.

Oct 18 - SC raps Karnataka again and asks how it had concluded that Rajakumar would be released if the TADA detenues were released. Nedumaran, a known LTTE supporter not Karnataka's choice, says Sonia.

Oct 19 - SC terms 'unpardonable' Tamil Nadu's failure to provide security at Rajkumar's farm house. Observes the whole kidnap drama a ploy to help Veerappan. Krishna okayed Nedumaran mission, counters M Karunanidhi.

Oct 31 - SC reserves judgement in the Veerappan associates case.

Nov 7 - SC sets aside August 19 order of Mysore court to withdraw TADA charges against 51 associates. Nedumaran pulls out of the mission piqued by a TMC leader's remark that he was an 'anti-national'.

Nov 11 - Nedumaran relents and undertakes another mission.

Nov 15 - Dr Rajakumar and the other hostage released.

UNI

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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