Tamil scribes set off to meet Veerappan

CHENNAI, July 19: Tamil weekly Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal and the journal's reporter, Sivasubramaniam left the city on Saturday on their mi...

CHENNAI, July 19: Tamil weekly Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal and the journal’s reporter, Sivasubramaniam left the city on Saturday on their mission to meet sandalwood smuggler Veerappan reportedly holed up in a jungle on the Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border and secure the release of nine officials of Karnataka held hostage by the smuggler.

Their visit follows a request from the Tamil Nadu government to Nakkeeran editor to provide assistance in establishing contacts with the smuggler to get the officials released.

Earlier in the day, the editor along with the journal’s deputy editor, Kamaraj and reporter Sivasubramaniam met the Chief Minister and discussed plans for the release of the hostages. Chief Secretary K A Nambiar, Home Secretary R Poornalingam and Inspector General (Intelligence) Alexander were also present at the meeting.

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Gopal and his team had earlier held discussions with DGP Rajasekharan Nair, Alexander and Poornalingam on July 15 on the issues to be discussed during their meeting with Veerappan and the action to be taken by the government after the visit.

Veerappan has demanded an amnesty for himself and his associates as a condition for his surrender. Veerappan has reportedly expressed his willingness to surrender and release nine hostages held by him, according to Karnataka Minister of State for Home. Nine forest department personnel of Karnataka who were kidnapped by the brigand on July 11 have been in his custody since nine days.

The RJD’s key face and Leader of the Opposition (LoP) Tejashwi Yadav, party supremo Lalu Yadav’s son, will again contest from his stronghold Raghopur.

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The RJD, lead player of the Mahagathbandhan, released its full list of 143 candidates for the November Bihar Assembly elections. Its key face Tejashwi Yadav will contest from Raghopur, and 41 sitting MLAs have been renominated. The party has dropped 36 sitting MLAs and fielded young leaders, signaling a bid to consolidate its core Muslim-Yadav vote base. The Congress has fielded 60 candidates.

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