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Fulfil my demands and take Nagappa: Veerappan

The second cassette sent by forest brigand Veerappan to Chief Minister S M Krishna reached the Kollegal residence of former state minister H Nagappa, who is now in the bandit's custody, on Thursday, September 5. Surprisingly, the parcel bore the postmark of a place near Bangalore.

Our correspondent R Sadananda managed to get a copy of the cassette and transcribed Veerappan's 45-minute message delivered in Tamil. The cassette also had a short message from Nagappa in Kannada.

Following is Veerappan's message:

I, Veerappan, am speaking with the chief minister of Karnataka, S M Krishna.

I have abducted Nagappa. Follow my instructions and get him released. You send an emissary and I will speak to him about my demands. You fulfil those demands and I will send Nagappa. But don't send the police. If you send the police, I will cut Nagappa's head and toss it at you. This is for sure.

You had said that you would fulfil all my demands last time (during Dr Rajakumar's abduction). But you betrayed me. Don't do it again. Then, I had acted according to ['Kolathur'] Mani's request and released Rajakumar. If you fulfil my demands this time, you can take Nagappa.

Don't try to cheat me this time and don't send the police. If you send the police and try to betray me, I will kill Nagappa. This is for sure. And mind you, This is Veerappan.

I, Veerappan, am speaking to S M Krishna about why I have abducted Nagappa. I am going to tell you about the circumstances, the reasons behind this kidnap, and going to reveal them in detail.

You know that my brother Arjunan and my associates Ayyan Dorai and Thaggasamy had abducted DSP Chidambaram. They had surrendered before the collector Shankar. He had produced them in court and the court had remanded them to jail.

Then Karnataka STF chief Shankar Bidri along with Walter Dawaram, chief of the Tamil Nadu STF, hatched a plot to kill them. Both these are murderers. They are skilled in murders. They have committed numerous atrocities against the tribal people -- my people. I can give you evidence. I can tell you the story of those who have suffered because of them. The people behind all these atrocities are Dawaram and Bidri.

When they plotted to kill my brother and associates, this Nagappa was a minister. Then, Deve Gowda was the chief minister of Karnataka. Shankar Bidri is Nagappa's caste man (both are Lingayats). Nagappa never went against Bidri's word. He always did what Bidri used to tell him, and vice-versa. Shankar Bidri used to tell fake stories about me that I was planning to hurt Nagappa.

It was Bidri's suggestion to Nagappa to kill Arjunan and the others. He told Nagappa that I may harm him. Nagappa fell for his words and asked him to go ahead. Nagappa then asked the Karnataka government to seek Arjunan and the others for interrogation, which was given as Nagappa was a minister. Bidri went to Tamil Nadu and brought these men. On the way to Mysore, somehow he managed to kill them using cyanide tablets.

When Chief Minister Deve Gowda got to know of this, he was wonderstruck. How could people in jail get cyanide? Ah! Ah! Something wrong here, he thought, and asked Bidri for an explanation.

But Nagappa intervened and told the chief minister that it was he who had asked Bidri to bring them over and something had happened on the way. It would be better to leave it at that. Nagappa asked the CM not to take action against Bidri. He covered up the matter and stood behind Bidri.

From that day I wanted to abduct Nagappa and kill him, to take revenge. He was given police protection. I wanted to do this a long time back. I had planned to kidnap Nagappa soon after my brother's death. I was waiting for an opportunity. When I went to his house, the guards were there. I could have killed them. But no, I didn't want to kill them. But, I attacked them and surprised them. I attacked them bravely and abducted Nagappa.

I could do the same thing with Raju Gowda [the present minister from Chamarajanagar district]. But I won't, as he is a nice man. He has never said anything against me. He is only 3 km away from here. But I don't want to. He has more police with him than this Nagappa. But these policemen are nothing to me. I can kill them like dogs. I can abduct him too. He is not my enemy. Hence I don't want to touch him.

I have kidnapped Nagappa because he killed my brother and my associates. I could have killed him too. But no, I don't want to do this. I want him to suffer. Let him suffer the way we suffer. Let him know about our sufferings here in the forest. That is why I have brought him here. When you fulfil my demands, I will release him.

He supported the police and got my brother killed. Now, even if you send the police, or the military, or anyone else, I am not bothered. I care for no one. I am ready to die. Anyway, all have to die one day. I too have to die one day. I am already dead. My family and I perished long back. Now, I have nothing to lose. Whatever it may be, I never get justice.

I respect T S Mani ('Kolathur' Mani) and Nedumaran. Do you remember Rajakumar's abduction? They are the ones who convinced me not to demand money. They said you can believe Karunanidhi [then chief minister of Tamil Nadu]. You can believe S M Krishna. Krishna is a nice man. You will get justice from these two. They promised that they would get justice to me. They promised to get justice to those who have had to suffer because of the STF. They said adequate compensation would be given to those families whose members were killed by the police.

Nedumaran and Mani told me not to trouble this great man [Rajakumar]. This man is like a god. He is a man of great values. You should not trouble him. He protected Rajiv Gandhi's mother Indira Gandhi, when she was stoned by a mob. Then Rajakumar had risked his life to save 'Amma' [Indira Gandhi]. She called him an 'Iron Man'. This had happened during Kamaraj's period. Then Nedumaran was an MLA.

Nedumaran told me that Rajakumar had given money and materials to villagers when they were attacked by dacoits. If you do this to Rajakumar, I will be angry with you. If Rajakumar wanted to become a minister he could have easily become one. But he never wanted that. If you do this to him, it is wrong. So I was convinced by Nedumaran when he asked me not to ask for money for his release.

Mani came to me, held my hands, and begged for Rajakumar's release. He said, at least for my words release Rajakumar. I agreed and let him go.

Now somebody says Mani has taken money from me. How can they say that? Do you know how much land he has? Why he should take money from me? Now police have put him behind bars, charging that he helped me. No, he has helped the people of Tamil Nadu. They respect him for that. People respect Nedumaran as he has worked for them. Now the Tamil Nadu CM has put him in the jail.

All my demands that were put forth during Rajakumar's release have not been met. Both the governments have not fulfilled them. I want the Karnataka government to fulfil my demands and take Nagappa back safely.

I want the Karnataka government to withdraw the cases against Mani and release him and send him to the forest to meet me. I will tell him about my demands. If you fulfil those demands I will send Nagappa with him safely.

I heard on the radio that you have asked people to come forward to meet me as an emissary. I tell you, not a dog will come to me. You arrested great men like Mani and Nedumaran. You release Mani and he will be the only person to meet me.

After kidnapping Nagappa, we walked 1.5km. Nagappa became tired and wanted water. What could I do at night? But Nagappa said he was dying of thirst and wanted water immediately. We went near a farm. The gate was locked. I shouted at them. The owner came and asked me, "Who are you? From which village?" I replied that I am Veerappan and have no village. I am a forest-dweller. The person started to shiver. At the same time a Tamilian was coming on the way. He was drunk, smelling of arrack. I caught hold of him and asked him to bring water. He brought a pot full of water.

I gave the cassette to the owner of the farmhouse and asked him to hand it over to Nagappa's wife. Nagappa agreed to this arrangement. I gave him Rs 1,000 and said Veerappan would never want to take people's help without giving money.

Now the person who carried the cassette has been accused of being my man. How can he become my man? It is also said that he came to my place to take the cassette. No person can come near me unless I wish so. Even a dog can never come near me without my permission. But you catch innocent people and harass them whenever I ask them to do something for me. I pay them and they do. It's just that.

I want Mani to come this time. You say that police will save Nagappa [laughs]. What can they do? They take money and sleep in their rooms. I warn you not to send police. There should be no police movements. They should be withdrawn immediately. All I want is Mani. He should be sent to the forest immediately.

Soon after I released Rajakumar, Jayalalithaa came to power. She wanted me to surrender and apologize for my sins. She sent Walter Dawaram as the STF chief. He asked me to surrender and said he would take care of the rest of the things. What can these policemen do? Can they catch me? Never! Send Mani. There is no alternative.

I am sending this cassette only through post so it reaches you late. Soon as you get this, drop all cases against Mani and release him from jail. Don't waste time.

If you put the police to catch me, you are wasting your time. Send Mani. When he comes there should not be any police around [coughs]. Withdraw the police and send Mani. Do as I have said. I will inform Mani about my demands. Once you fulfil them I will send Nagappa with him.

Goodbye!

H Nagappa Abduction: Complete coverage
The Abduction of Dr Rajakumar
The Hunt for Veerappan

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