No ransom was paid or amnesty offered to Veerappan — Krishna

NEW DELHI, NOV 18: Chief Minister S M Krishna has asserted that nabbing forest brigand Veerappan is an "achievable target" for which Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments have to work out a joint strategy and dismissed allegations that ransom was paid or amnesty offered to the outlaw to secure the release of Kannada film icon Rajkumar.

Veerappan’s capture was an achievable target for which the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments had to work out a joint strategy taking the help of the Centre, Krishna said in an interview to The Week published in its latest issue. Stating that "ransom talk is rubbish", the Chief Minister emphatically said, "Not even one paisa was paid…..No money was involved at all."

He also denied that amnesty had been offered to the sandalwood smuggler. "Nothing was asked, nor was anything offered. He is still an offender in the various cases booked against him."

Story continues below this ad

Krishna suggested formation of a commando force that could perhaps be trained in Israel so that it could operate in different terrain and conditions.

"We do not have commandos who can operate in jungle and bring back hostage alive," Krishna said.

Krishna said the government had intensified intelligence-gathering apparatus and was on the look out for Veerappan."I know he is not within Karnataka borders."