Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna said on Wednesday that the government had not received a seventh cassette from forest brigand Veerappan.
"I appeal to the media not to be carried away by speculation and rumours about anything on Veerappan or [slain Janata Dal-United leader] Nagappa unless it is corroborated by facts. Even in today's newspapers I have read... that one more dead body has been found in the Changadi forests, and more dead bodies are being looked at. When you get confirmation from your own sources, check up its authenticity with the state director general of police [T Madiyal]," he told reporters in Bangalore.
The chief minister added that "our firm resolve is to go after Veerappan; to capture him, dead or alive".
Krishna also said he had written to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asking him to convene a meeting of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala to formulate a joint strategy along with the Centre on nabbing Veerappan.
"I have suggested that the meeting could be held on December 21, as all the state chief ministers are likely to be in Delhi on that day for the National Development Council meeting."
About the public interest litigation filed in the Delhi high court on Tuesday against Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and the Centre for their failure to catch Veerappan, Krishna told rediff.com: "It is a sensitive matter. We are yet to take a view on this. We will act on it after we receive the notice in hand."
Regarding the post-mortem report on the cause of Nagappa's death, Krishna said the police team that had gone to the spot to investigate the incident and study the autopsy report was yet to return to Bangalore.
"We will be able to know the exact cause of Nagappa's death after all investigations are completed, including the forensic report," Krishna added.
He also added that he would make a statement on the abduction case when the assembly is convened later this month.
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