Veerappan ends hostages’ trauma

The hostages’ release, which brings to an end the seven-week long drama, has added a new twist to the ongoing surrender initiative. The release of hostages leaves Veerappan without a shield in case the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka decide not to accept his new demands though their release was one of the conditions laid down by the two governments.

The new demands are listed in a video-cassette that Gopal is bringing with him, and which will be handed over to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister tomorrow.

Gopal is also expected to brief him on the discussions he had with Veerappan.However, a hitch appears to have developed in the discussions regarding Veerappan’s surrender. The picture would become clear only when Gopal meets the CM in Chennai tomorrow.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, expressing happiness over the release of hostages, said “after hearing the demands a decision will be taken.”

Nakheeran associate editor, A Kakaraj, whom Gopal contacted first on emerging from the jungles, said the Editor would divulge the outcome of the discussion on the actual modalities of his surrender only tomorrow, after apprising Karunanidhi of the latest position.

The hostage drama had begun on the night of July 12 when Veerappan had waylaid ten Karnataka forest personnel inside the Burude forests of Kollegal in Karnataka. The posse had entered the forests to repair a broken bridge and to replenish the salt licks for the elephants.

The next day Veerappan had released van driver Basavaraju with two audio cassettes addressed to the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Chief Ministers demanding general amnesty; he had also threatened to behead the hostages if his demands were not met.

After consultations, the two State Governments refused to grant him general amensty; instead, they promised protection to his life if he surrendered. TheKarnataka Government authorised Karunanidhi to handle the hostage crisis and secure the release of the hostages. Five days after the kidnapping, Tamil Nadu Government asked the Nakkeeran Editor R R Gopal to hold talks with Veeerappan. Gopal returned after the first round of negotiations on July 23 with a video cassette and photographs of the gang members and the hostages, confirming for the first time that the Brigand had not killed the forest personnel. However, Veerappan refused to release the hostages and persisted with his demand seeking blanket amnesty.

With the public pressure mounting on the two governments, both the Chief Ministers gave in to his demands which included transfer of all cases to Tamil Nadu. Gopal went in for the second round of talks during the first week of August. Though the brigand stuck to his demand for general amnesty, he also demanded a ransom of Rs 5 crores to release of the hostages. Goppal, however, was successful in persuading Veerappan to release at least one hostage as a token of his good intentions. Forest Watcher Raju was first to be released after 25 days in captivity. But the brigand stuck to his demands, setting a deadline of ten days from August 5.

He sprang a surprise on August 18 when he offered to surrender and release the hostages without any preconditions.