Bangalore, Oct 07: Forest brigand Veerappan has demanded sending Tamil activist Kolathur Mani as emissary within eight days to negotiate the release of JD(U) leader H Nagappa, who is in his captivity for the last 44 days.

Speaking after hearing the third cassette sent by Veerappan, alongwith senior police officials, Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said the next move would be decided after consulting Chief Minister S M Krishna, who is now on a 'padayatra' on the Cauvery issue. Asked if the bandit had set any timeframe, he said the outlaw has asked for Mani to be sent as the mediator within eight days.

Mani is currently lodged in Bellary jail. The cassette, which was found in the lawns of Nagappa's farmhouse at Kamagere in Chamarajanagar district on Sunday evening, was handed over to Kharge by Nagappa's son Preetam. Bureau Report