T.N. to move S.C. for ultras' release

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, SEPT. 3. Even as the kidnap episode involving the Kannada actor, Mr. Rajkumar, entered a delicate phase, the Tamil Nadu Government decided to file a counter-petition in the Supreme Court as part of its ``legal efforts'' to press for the release of the five extremists jailed in the State. Their release is one of the key demands made by the forest brigand Veerappan.

The Chief Minister, Mr. M. Karunanidhi, told reporters at the Secretariat here today that two New Delhi-based lawyers, Messrs. Adarsh Ganesan and Wadhera, had last week filed a public interest litigation in the apex court pleading against the extremists' release.

Pointing out that his Government had received a notice from the Supreme Court on the PIL, Mr. Karunanidhi said the apex court indefinitely staying the release of the 30 TADA detenus from the Mysore prison, ``would also be applicable'' to the five ultras from Tamil Nadu.

Hence, the Government would take steps to ensure ``the release'' of the five militants, belonging to the Tamil National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Tamil National Retrieval Troops (TNRT). The emissary-journalist, Mr. R. R. Gopal, now on his third mission to the forests to negotiate the hostages' release, ``will explain this position'' to Veerappan, he said.

On the Karnataka Chief Minister, Mr. S. M. Krishna's statement that his Government would take steps to expedite the hearing on the special leave petition, Mr. Karunanidhi said Tamil Nadu would also take further steps ``depending on the situation''.

The SLP had been filed by the father of sub-inspector Shakeel Ahmed, who along with the Superintendent of Police, Harikrishna, was allegedly killed by Veerappan in 1992.

While Tamil Nadu had already obtained the Union Home Ministry's clearance on withdrawal of certain cases against the five Tamil ultras wherein Central Government property was involved and had revoked the NSA detention against four of them, the PIL in the Supreme Court posed fresh hurdles.

Broadcast on statues

Meanwhile, in another bid to appease Veerappan on two other demands, an ``official message'' was broadcast through All India Radio's regional (Tamil) bulletin early today making known the two State Governments' commitment to install the statue of the Tamil saint-poet, Thiruvalluvar, in Bangalore on ``Pongal day'' (January 14), 2001. The same day, the Kannada poet Sarvajna's statue would be installed in Chennai, the broadcast said, based on an `official communication' received from the Karnataka Government.

As regards the recommencement of the Sadhashivam Commission of Inquiry, into the Special Task Force's ``excesses'' in 1993, the broadcast said the panel would resume hearing on September 11 at Kolathur in Salem district. Veerappan had demanded that the dates with regard to these two issues be broadcast over the radio.

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