Oh no, he was sitting like an idol on the rock. He did not move, even while I shouted — ‘Periyar (sir), escape’. Inevitably, I had to leave him and escape. I had released him and saving him was your duty ..’’This is how Veerappan’s 15-minute cassette described what could be H Nagappa’s last few moments.‘‘On Thursday morning, around 10 am, I, Nagappa and others were sitting on a rock in Chengadi forests. Sethukuli Govinda expressed his apprehension about police movement and it was soon confirmed that Tamil Nadu police were approaching us,’’ Veerappan said in his recorded message.‘‘We prepared to tackle the situation and asked Nagappa to get off the rock, but he did not. The Tamil Nadu police opened fire at us and we retaliated. Some of us suffered minor injuries. Nagappa came down and hid between two rocks, but by then he was injured,’’ Veerappan said.‘‘Nagappa was hit by a bullet fired by the Tamil Nadu STF. We tried to save him, but did not succeed. We had to escape and we had to leave him there. I am telling you this because I do not want to get a bad name. I swear on god and tell you that Tamil Nadu police are responsible if something happens to Nagappa’s life,’’ Veerappan said. ‘‘I have looked after Nagappa well. I have never troubled him.I have got him whatever kind of food he demanded. Once, he asked for bread and jam, which I supplied,’’ Veerappan said. ‘‘I was optimistic that Mani would get bail and he would come as emissary. I thought of releasing Nagappa after that. I was listening to radio messages sent by Raju Gowda, Ponnachi and Nagappa’s son.’’‘‘Meanwhile, I was bothered by a development,’’ Veerappan pointed out. ‘‘While news from Karnataka stated that Mani would get bail soon, the news from Tamil Nadu said that it would take more than one month. I suspected some conspiracy by Tamil Nadu in this. I felt that they would conduct an operation against me and some omens also were bad for me.’’
