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, “Me? Surrender? It is all nonsense.”

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

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