Gopal off to the forests for second time

CHENNAI, AUG 16: The official emissary Nakeeran Gopal left for the forests this evening on his mission to rescue Kannada film-actor Rajkum...

CHENNAI, AUG 16: The official emissary Nakeeran Gopal left for the forests this evening on his mission to rescue Kannada film-actor Rajkumar, who was taken hostage by forest brigand Veerappan 18 days ago. Gopal was expected to enter the forests tomorrow.

Gopal, who called on Chief Minister M Karunanidhi alongwith the actor’s sons this morning, left armed with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka Governments’ orders for the release of TADA detenus and Tamil extremists, detained under the NSA in the two States.

The Karnataka Government has passed orders dropping the charges against 51 TADA detenus, and the TN Government has passed orders to drop charges under NSA against four extremists and TADA against one, charged with attacks on police stations. The release of the detenus was one of Veerappan’s major demands.

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Gopal was accompanied by three of his journalist-colleagues and took with him medicines and audio-cassettes, given by Rajkumar’s family-members.

Gopal also carried copies of the gazette notification on the constitution of Cauvery river authority, headed by Prime Minister A B Vajpayee. Veerappan had demanded that the issue be referred to the International Court of Justice.

The emissary also carried orders on the payment of compensation to Vachathi rape victims and families of eight Dalits killed in arson in Kolar district in Karnataka.

Gopal would work out the modalities of when and where the Tamil extremists will be released after discussing the issue with Veerappan.

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