Gopal likely to return with some released hostages

CHENNAI, August 5: The Tamil Nadu Government’s emissary to Veerappan, the notorious forest brigand, Tamil magazine editor R R Gopal, is likely to return with some of hostages the outlaw is holding in the forests bordering Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, to press his demand for general amnesty. Associate Editor of the `Nakkeeran’ magazine, Kamaraj, said at least two of the nine hostages could well have been rescued by Gopal and his team, who are on their way back after negotiations with Veerappan. Gopal, who entered the forests on August 2, is expected to be back on August 6.