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Karnataka govt trying to establish contact with Veerappan

Fakir Chand in Bangalore

With no word from Veerappan on the condition of the abducted Janata Dal leader H Nagappa, a desperate Karnataka government is trying to establish contact with the forest brigand to start negotiations.

The government has asked the Special Task Force to go slow on catching Veerappan, and initiate efforts to open communication channels with him.

Sources told rediff.com the government was forced to rein in the STF following pressure from the Nagappa family, especially his wife Parimala, who pleaded with state Chief Minister S M Krishna saying the operations might endanger the former state minister's life.

Krishna had gone to Kamagere village on Friday and met the Nagappa family.

The family firmly conveyed to Krishna and state Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge that the first priority of the state government should be the 'welfare and whereabouts of Nagappa'.

The family also recalled how Veerappan, after abducting Kannada matinee idol Rajakumar, had sent an audiocassette assuring the filmstar's family about his safety and health.

The family contended that this was possible because the brigand had access to outside word and could communicate in the absence of the STF operations.

"If the STF halts its operations and withdraws from the interiors of the Dimbam-Gundal forest range, it will facilitate or pave way for Veerappan to at least send a word or message through a tape containing Nagappa's voice so that we could have the consolation of knowing his welfare and health," the family told Krishna.

On Saturday, sources said, the government directed the STF to immediately suspend all combing operations of the Sathyamangalam forest range bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Though the official line continues to be ambiguous about the status of the operations, state home ministry sources confirmed that the forces were only keeping a vigil on the movement of people and transport vehicles.

But the Tamil Nadu STF has declined to suspend its operations, amid reports that Parimala might visit Chennai and request Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa to halt the operations against the forest brigand.

Additional Director General of Police R Nataraj said the state STF has been put on maximum alert at over 70 places along the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border, spreading in over three districts.

"Our aim is to nab Veerappan and rescue former Karnataka minister Nagappa alive," he said adding that the STF proposed to press the services of sniffer dogs in the operations.

With inputs from agencies

H Nagappa Abduction: Complete coverage
The Abduction of Dr Rajakumar
The Hunt for Veerappan

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