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Kolathur Mani appeals to Veerappan to release Nagappa

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Sept. 15. A cassette containing an appeal by the jailed LTTE sympathiser, Kolathur Mani, to the forest brigand, Veerappan, for the immediate release of the former Karnataka Minister, H. Nagappa, was aired from All India Radio Centres in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu this afternoon.

Kolathur Mani, who had assisted the Tamizhar Desiya Iyyakam leader, P. Nedumaran, in securing the release of the Kannada thespian, Rajkumar, two years ago, appealed to Veerappan to release Mr. Nagappa on humanitarian grounds. He pointed out that Mr. Nagappa was suffering from diabetes and heart ailment while his family members were suffering due to his abduction.

In the cassette, recorded in the Bellary jail, where Kolathur Mani is kept, he pointed out that the Karnataka Government had suspended its operations to nab Veerappan. Kolathur Mani also pointed out that since he was facing a case in Karnataka, he could not come to the forest to negotiate the release of Mr. Nagappa. He could come to negotiate only after absolving himself of the charges. Veerappan had named Kolathur Mani as one of the persons who could negotiate with him the release of Mr. Nagappa.

Meanwhile, Kolathur Mani has also written a letter containing a similar appeal. The letter has been handed over to Mani's brother, Palaniswamy, who has already left for Kolathur. Though he is said to have promised to make all efforts to reach the letter to Veerappan, the sources in the Government said Palaniswamy was not confident of meeting Veerappan. He did not have the sources required to access him, the sources added. However, the Government sources hoped that Veerappan, who would have heard the appeal from Kolathur Mani, would respond at the earliest. The Government, which did not have any alternative negotiator, seems to have decided to await the response from Veerappan, who might name others to negotiate with him.

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