Editor meets elusive Veerappan aides

CHENNAI, Aug 3: Government emissary and editor of Tamil magazine Nakeeran, RR Gopal, has entered the forests on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka bo...

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CHENNAI, Aug 3: Government emissary and editor of Tamil magazine Nakeeran, RR Gopal, has entered the forests on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border, and is expected to meet sandalwood smuggler Veerappan on Sunday night or in the early hours of Monday in connection with the release of nine hostages.

Sources close to Gopal told The Indian Express that Veerappan’s aides had established contact with the emissary on Sunday after dodging Karnataka police and forest personnel, who continued to keep tabs on the operations of Veerappan’s men in the forests.

In fact, the mission appeared torpedoed by the presence of these officials when Gopal was trying to meet Veerappan’s associates. The latter kept away on seeing Karnataka officials.

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It is learnt that after a protest was conveyed to the Tamil Nadu Government, the Karnataka police withdrew. Thereafter, contact was established, and the message came through that Veerappan would meet him.

It is learnt that Gopal has sent an audio cassette to the Nakeeran office on the events of the last two days, and on the possibilities of an early meeting with Veerappan.

Gopal would convey to Veerappan the stand of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments, that though no immediate amnesty was possible at this stage in the event of his surrender, he would be provided security, besides trial of all cases in Tamil Nadu.

At any rate, the very fact that Veerappan has agreed to meet Gopal, indicates that he has made a comedown from his stand that he would not cooperate unless assured general amnesty. This has given hope that Veerappan would consider the situation in a pragmatic light, sources said.