Bangalore, Aug 29: As special police forces scoured through the dense jungles in the hunt for the elusive Veerappan, Karnataka government today kept open the option of
negotiations with the forest brigand in a bid to secure the release of the kidnapped Janata Dal leader H Nagappa.
With no clues on the whereabouts of the 62-year old hostage and Veerappan`s next step after the fifth day of the kidnap, Karnataka law minister D B Chandre Gowda today
made an open offer to negotiators willing to hold talks with the poacher-smuggler but at the same time did not rule out a "massive assault".
Asserting that the government wanted a negotiated settlement to the crisis, Gowda told newsmen here "our priority is for negotiations. We are trying to spot an emissary. All those who can effectively negotiate with Veerappan are welcome."
Gowda`s remarks on utilising the services of emissaries were in contrast to Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa`s opposition to holding negotiations with the forest brigand.
In a parallel development, Tamil National Movement leader P Nedumaran, a Pota detenu, who negotiated the release of Kannada film icon Rajkumar, offered to mediate to end the crisis. Veerappan is reported to have demanded the release of Nedumaran in his cassette sent to the government two days back.
Hundreds of members of the Karnataka STF combed the Satyamangalam Jungle spread over a tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala and were preparing to set up vantage points.
Bureau Report
