Rajkumar favours amnesty for Veerappan

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, JAN. 26. The Kannada filmstar, Mr. Rajkumar released on November 15 after being held hostage for 108 days today felt that amnesty could be granted to the forest brigand Veerappan, who had held him. He hastened to add that the matter could be decided only by the Government.

On his visit to the city after his kidnap, Mr. Rajkumar, told mediapersons that matters such as how the bandit would cope with the new environment if amnesty was granted, had to be considered. For this reason he said only the Government could decide on amnesty.

Asked about the resumption of STF operations against Veerappan, Mr. Rajkumar said the police were doing their job. He did not have anything to do with the sandalwood smuggler. He said he was looked after well when he was in the forest, though he had been longing to leave the forest at the earliest.

Mr. Rajkumar said it was possible that Dr. Banu, who treated him, could have ventured into the forest at the invitation of the Tamil Nationalist Movement leader, Mr. P. Nedumaran. Also, it was Veerappan who suggested that Mr. Nedumaran be requested to negotiate the release of the hostages.

He was however taken aback at the visit of Dr. Banu who said that ``Will I not have come here if my father has been held in captivity''.

He did not know why the function to felicitate Mr. Nedumaran in Bangalore was cancelled.Accompanied by his son, Mr. Raghavendra Rajkumar, the actor who arrived here this morning, met a doctor for treatment of a knee problem.

Security was tight at the hotel where Mr. Rajkumar stayed.

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