Bangalore, Oct 16: The process to establish contact with forest bandit Veerappan to end the 53 day-old abduction crisis involving former minister H Nagappa was set in motion today with All India Radio airing a message by local JD(U) leader Ponnachi Mahadevaswamy to the outlaw that he was willing to negotiate with him.

The recorded message of Mahadevaswamy, whom the fugitive has chosen as an emissary along with jailed Tamil activist, Kolamani was broadcast today from here, security advisor to the Karnataka government T Srinivasulu told reporters. Karnataka DGP T Madiyal said Mahadevaswamy, the Kollegal Taluk unit JD-U president, has asked Veerappan to respond whether he was willing to talk to him if he ventured into the forests alone, in the light of the brigand's insistence that he accompany Mani for negotiations.

Mahadevaswamy has outlined the legalities that were involved in Mani being enlarged on bail, a process which is likely to take some more time. He has also appealed to Veerappan to release Nagappa on humanitarian grounds and said he would meet him after Mani was enlarged on bail to discuss his demands.

Mani is currently lodged in Bellary jail in connection with five cases launched against him including one under Tada and his bail applications pending before the state high court were expected to come up for hearing sometime this week or early next week. As the eight-day deadline set by Veerappan to send the two emissaries to negotiate the release of Nagappa came to an end, chief minister S M Krishna summoned Mahadevaswamy yesterday to ascertain whether he would play the role of the negotiator. Bureau Report