Krishna, Karunanidhi discuss strategy

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JULY 31. The crisis-management scene, following the kidnapping of the Kannada film star, Dr. Rajkumar and three others, by the forest brigand, Veerappan, shifted to Chennai this afternoon with the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna, arriving for consultations and Tamil Nadu agreeing to send an emissary to meet the outlaw.

At a joint conference with Mr. Krishna, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, said the two Governments would make all efforts to ``get in touch with Veerappan through the appropriate mode'', and free the hostages. Mr. Krishna, who was accompanied by the State Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, top Government officials and the wife and son of Dr. Rajkumar, left for Bangalore around 4 p.m.

Veerappan, in an audio cassette sent to Mr. Krishna through Mrs. Rajkumar late last night, fixed an eight-day deadline, with a message to ``send an emissary'' to discuss some of his problems, Mr. Karunanidhi said.

The Union Home Minister, Mr. L. K. Advani, spoke to him this morning, Mr. Karunanidhi said and added that the kidnapping had shocked one and all. He expressed the hope that Veerappan, respecting the people's sentiments, would free the hostages

Pointing out that he had come to request Mr. Karunanidhi to ``help us to get the release'' of the four hostages, Mr. Krishna said ``both of us have agreed to work towards that end.''

Disclosing the contents of the audio cassette sent by the sandalwood smuggler, Mr. Krishna said he had requested Mr. Karunanidhi ``to send an emissary on our behalf to Veerappan'' and ``on the receipt of Veerappan's demands, we will consider the same.''

Denying a report that Veerappan, in the cassette, objected to the treatment of Tamils in Karnataka, Mr. Krishna said, ``the cassette does not contain any message other than the demand for an emissary.''

Mr. Karunanidhi said that though the incident occurred in Tamil Nadu, police protection could not be given to Dr. Rajkumar as he had not given prior information on his visit.

The two Chief Ministers appealed to the people of both States to maintain calm and help resolve the crisis.

Bus services suspended

The situation was tense in parts of Erode, Salem and Dharmapuri districts of Tamil Nadu bordering Karnataka. Bus services to Bangalore from Hosur, Dharmapuri, Salem and Coimbatore were suspended for the day following reports of disturbances in Karnataka.

The Tamil Maanila Congress president, Mr. G.K. Moopanar, was stranded at the Bangalore airport due to a commotion outside. Local police helped him reach Hosur en route to Palacode in Dharmapuri district.

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