The Hindu : Who will be the negotiator this time?

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 27, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Who will be the negotiator this time?

By K.V. Subramanya

BANGALORE AUG. 26. Finding an emissary to negotiate the release of the former Minister, H. Nagappa, with the forest brigand, Veerappan, appears to have become a problem for the State Government.

Those who played a key role in getting the Kannada thespian, Rajkumar, and others released from the brigand's custody two years ago are now either in jail or have refused to go on such missions. The Government has to search for a new emissary.

Because of certain developments in the last few months, as far as those who had played a role in getting the thespian released, there is a fear that anyone who offers to be an emissary may be hounded by police later.

The Tamizhar Desiya Iyyakam leader, P. Nedumaran, who played a leading role in negotiating the release of Mr. Rajkumar, has been arrested under POTA by the Tamil Nadu police and is now in jail.

Kolathur Mani, a known LTTE sympathiser, who had assisted Mr. Nedumaran in his mission, is in Gulbarga prison. His bail application was rejected by the court on August 12.

Mani was arrested in the forests falling under Rampura Police Station limits in the second week of March by the STF officials on charges of supplying arms and ammunition to Veerappan. He has been named an accused in the Palar blast case.

The Nakkeeran Editor, R.R. Gopal, who had been a long-time emissary to Veerappan, has distanced himself from such missions after the Tamil Nadu police booked several criminal cases against him recently.

The Nakkeeran reporter, Shivasubramaniam, who was the first journalist to establish contacts with Veerappan, has been put behind bars by Tamil Nadu police and he has been denied bail by the court.

It is said that the Government may approach the Bangalore Tamil Sangam leader, Shanmuga Sundaram, or Dr. Bhanu, who were given credit for getting Mr. Rajkumar released, this time.

However, the chances of Mr. Sundaram accepting such a proposal are bleak given the manner in which Mani, Shivasubramaniam, and Gopal have been booked by police.

Dr. Bhanu may not be willing to undertake such a mission because of the bad Press she got after the thespian's release.

Ban orders

Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police, H.T. Sangliana, has clamped ban orders in Bangalore for a week.

Mr. Sangliana told presspersons that security had been heightened in areas where Tamil-speaking people were predominant in the City.

He has appealed to the people to maintain calm.

Mr. Sangliana also appealed to the Kannada matinee idol, Rajkumar's family to ensure that the actor's fans did not create problems.

He said: "As Mr. Rajkumar is away, an officer deputed by me spoke to his son, Shivaraj Kumar, in this regard. Mr. Shivaraj Kumar said that you need not fear anything from our side."

In another development, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), B.G. Jyothi Prakash Mirji, and the Inspector of Kumaraswamy Layout Police Station, P.S. Gachinakatti, have been summoned to the M.M. Hills to assist the Special Task Force (STF) in the "rescue Nagappa operations."

Mr. Sangliana said that the Director-General and Inspector-General of Police, V.V. Bhaskar, had asked the two officers from the City to rush to M.M. Hills.

However, the duties that had been assigned to Mr. Mirji and Mr. Gachinakatti, who have left for M.M. Hills, and whey they have been summoned to the STF headquarters are not known.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States