Journalist-emissary R R Gopal has agreed to venture again into the jungles in a day or two to negotiate with forest brigand Veerappan after receiving a 'signal' from him, official sources said on Wednesday.

The sources told PTI that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi spoke to his counterpart in Karnataka S M Krishna over phone and conveyed Gopal's willingness to undertake the mission. Gopal has sent a message to Veerappan and is awaiting a 'signal' from the outlaw, the sources said.
The development comes a day after Karnataka government decided to stick to its present strategy of negotiating with Veerappan through Gopal and awaiting the verdict of the Supreme Court, where cases relating to TADA detenus, whose release is being sought by the fugitive, is scheduled to come up for hearing on October 11. Gopal had returned unsuccessful after his fourth mission during which one of the hostages Nagappa Maradagi, an assistant film director, escaped from the bandit's captivity.

Bureau Report