The Hindu : Former Karnataka Minister kidnapped

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 26, 2002

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Former Karnataka Minister kidnapped

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE AUG. 25. Striking exactly two years after the abduction of the Kannada matinee idol Rajkumar, the forest brigand, Veerappan, on Sunday kidnapped the former Karnataka Minister of State for Agriculture Marketing, H. Nagappa, from his residence in Hanur police station limits in Kollegal Taluk.

Mr. Nagappa, who had represented Hanur Assembly constituency, was a Minister in the J.H. Patel Cabinet.

According to eyewitnesses, Veerappan, accompanied by eight of his associates, came to the residence of Mr. Nagappa at Kamagere, 15 km from Kollegal around 9.45 p.m. and banged on the door and asked the inmates to open it.

Mr. Nagappa, his wife Parimala, daughter Priyanka, grandson Saban, Mr. Shivamurthy, gunman Mahadevaswamy, two police constables and another relative were in the house at that time. When they did not open the door, the gang members opened fire in the air. The inmates then opened the door. Mr. Mahadevaswamy returned the fire, but to no avail, eyewitnesses said.

According to Ms. Parimala, Veerappan himself was leading the gang members. Her repeated pleas with the brigand not to harm her husband went unheeded. Mr. Nagappa's personal assistant, Shivamurthy, told The Hindu that the former Minister had celebrated the naming ceremony of his grandson earlier in the day with 200 relatives. He had then gone to Kollegal town and returned home around 8.30 p.m.

Eyewitnesses said that after the abduction, Mr. Nagappa's followers chased the kidnappers in a vehicle. According to last reports, they had not returned. Nearly 3,000 persons have gathered near Mr. Nagappa's residence. Reports said miscreants threw stones at vehicles bearing Tamil Nadu registration numbers in the border areas of Chamarajanagar district.

Mr. Nagappa had reportedly antagonised the forest brigand when he got the illegal quarries in and around Hanur closed. The role of the former Minister's political rivals, some of whom are said to be sympathisers of Veerappan, has not been ruled out in the abduction.

The STF has been placed on high alert at M.M. Hills.

There are reports that Veerappan might demand the release of the Tamizhar Desiya Iyakkam leader, P. Nedumaran, and others arrested under the POTA by the Tamil Nadu Government, in return for Mr. Nagappa's release.

Our Chennai Special Correspondent reports:

According to reports reaching Chennai, the Special Task Force in Tamil Nadu had also been alerted. All possible assistance was being rendered by the Tamil Nadu police.

Rajkumar visits native village See under Southern States

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