Rajkumar may be released before Diwali

The representatives, who also met Nakkheeran editor R R Gopal, another emissary, later expressed satisfaction over the negotiators’ efforts. They thanked the emissaries for taking up the task and to ask them to continue their efforts for early release of Rajkumar, Chandrasekar said.

He added that they were not meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi for the present.

Rajkumar Fans’ Association president S R Govindu said though there was some initial "unrest" among the fans over the abduction, they were now convinced that no action should be taken against Tamils in Karnataka for the acts of the outlaw.

Karnataka Film Workers, Artistes and Technicians Federation president S Ashok was also in the delegation.

Meanwhile, S A Govindaraju, one of the hostages released by Veerappan recently said that Rajkumar keeps himself abreast of developments only through radio bulletins. Rajkumar and the bandit never miss a radio news bulletin, he said.

"We used to switch on the radio at 6 am and switch it off only before retiring for the day", he said in an interview here.

Govindaraju also denied reports in a section of the press that Veerappan has sophisticated electronic gadgets and a television set powered through a generator.

In an appeal to the brigand, made through All India Radio, he further denied having told any one that he (Veerappan) was having modern gadgets and appealed to him not take cognisance of such reports.

Reports in a section of the press had quoted opposition leaders of having been told at the all-party meeting that Veerappan had such electronic gadgets.