Rajkumar's release imminent

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE, OCT. 14. The release of Mr. Rajkumar and two others being held hostage by the brigand, Veerappan, is imminent, according to high-level official sources.

The sources told The Hindu that this expectation was based on reports received by the Government from its sources. However, they declined to identify the sources.

The sources made it clear that the optimism was not based on information given by the emissaries who had gone to the forests to negotiate with Veerappan. ``We have not received any report or information from the emissaries at all.''

``You know we have our own sources. Various Government sources have indicated that the release is imminent,'' they said.

In view of this development, the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, held a high-level meeting this evening. It was attended by the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, the Home Secretary, Mr. M.B. Prakash, the Advocate-General, Mr. A.N. Jayaram, and the Director-General of Police, Mr. C. Dinakar.

The mood in official circles seemed upbeat with the indication that the 75-day-old crisis was coming to an end.

Veerappan cold

Mr. Rajkumar has appealed to his family members and Mr. Krishna to get him released at the earliest

from Veerappan's captivity. He said Veerappan's behaviour towards him and the other hostages had changed drastically after Mr. Nagappa Maradagi's escape.

In separate cassettes sent to his family and Mr. Krishna, the thespian said the brigand had now turned cold towards the hostages, highly-placed sources told The Hindu. The actor said he and the other hostages were desperate to return home.

Sources in the Police Department said the cassettes received over a week ago were sent to Mr. Rajkumar's family and Mr. Krishna from Tamil Nadu.

Though the sources were not forthcoming on the channel through which the cassettes were sent, it is believed those who delivered the cassette from Veerappan to the pro-LTTE leader, Mr. P. Nedumaran, had brought these cassettes also.

`No fresh message'

The Karnataka Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge, said in Gulbarga today that the abduction occurred in Tamil Nadu, and it was that State's responsibility to secure Mr. Rajkumar's release.

On the selection of the new emissaries, he said it was up to Tamil Nadu to devise methods for securing the release of the film star. Karnataka's only concern was his early and safe release without any more difficulties.

On the reported decision of Veerappan to flee to Jaffna in Sri Lanka after the release of Mr. Rajkumar, he said, ``After the release of Mr. Rajkumar, let him (Veerappan) go anywhere.''

Mr. Kharge accompanied Mr. Krishna to Gulbarga today on a day's visit.

T.N. officials in Delhi

Our Chennai Special Correspondent writes:

The Tamil Nadu Home Secretary, Mrs. Santha Sheela Nair, and the Additional Director-General of Police (Intelligence), Mr. A.X. Alexander, went to Delhi today to brief the Government counsel on the writ petitions relating to the release of ``Veerappan's aides'' coming up for hearing before the Supreme Court on Tuesday.

The senior officials are said to have handed over to the counsel the relevant records sought by the Supreme Court on the ``genuine efforts'' taken by the administration to nab Veerappan.

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