Centre urged to rush forces

As the logjam over the hostage drama involving JDU leader H. Nagappa continued for the eighth day today with Karnataka government still groping for a solution, the state has decided to again ask the Centre to rush the promised paramilitary forces in the hunt for forest brigand Veerappan.

While Veerappan has sent no word on the well-being of Nagappa, whom he is holding hostage since Sunday last, there were fresh reports that he had abducted a doctor from Chamrajnagar district. The reports, however, were promptly dismissed as 8216;8216;baseless8217;8217; by State Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge.

8216;8216;There is no iota of truth in them,8217;8217; Kharge said. Official sources said that police called on the doctor who was reported abducted.