Me, surrender? Never, says Veerappan

CHENNAI, April 28: Sandalwood smuggler Veerappan has ruled out surrendering to the authorities, thus ending speculations that he is about to give himself up. In an audio cassette delivered to a Tamil magazine editor, Veerappan says, 8220;Me? Surrender? It is all nonsense.8221;

The cassette was played at a media conference organised by R R Gopal, editor of Tamil bi-weekly Nakkeeran this evening. 8220;Veerappan will never surrender. He will hunt with the same vigour for another 25 years,8221; says the outlaw.

On media reports that he is contemplating surrender, Veerappan says, 8220;It is all their imagination.8221; He also dismisses all talks about his weakness and asthmatic problems. He claims he is rearing goats to be sacrificed to Goddess Bhadrakali. 8220;The day has not come yet,8221; he says, indicating that it might be a long time before he considers 8220;retirement8221;.