The Bharatiya Janata Party has called a Karnataka bandh on December 13 to demand the resignation of Chief Minister S M Krishna for his failure in resolving the Nagappa abduction crisis. BJP leaders Jagadish Shettar and B S Yediyurappa charged the chief minister with blaming the opposition for his "inefficiency" in handling the crisis.

Shettar told reporters that Krishna should have spoken to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, but did not do so, "thinking that he should not rub the Congress high command the wrong way". The two said Krishna has no "moral right to continue in office".

Meanwhile, the Special Task Forces of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have intensified their search for Veerappan. Karnataka Director General of Police T Madiyal said the forces are keeping a close watch on the areas where the bandit operates.

Additional police teams have been sent to the Nilambur forest in Malappuram district in Kerala to prevent Veerappan from crossing over to that state. "Elaborate security arrangements have been made in the Nilambur forests bordering Gudalur," Malappuram Deputy Superintendent of Police A Balakrishna Nair said.

In a related development, the Karnataka legislature will debate the Nagappa abduction on December 23 and 24, Law and Legislative Affairs Minister D B Chandregowda said. The government will place before the House details of the action taken during the crisis.