Zeenext Bureau Bangalore/Chennai, Aug: 25: Official emissary R.R. Gopal will once again venture into the forest on Aug 28 to negotiate the release of abducted Kannada film star Rajkumar and three others. The brigand this time had sought further clarifications on some his demands, thereby delaying the release of the abducted actor. Gopal, who arrived in Chennai on Thursday, said the brigand had sought further clarifications on the release of TADA detenues in Karnataka and five TNLA prisoners in Tamil Nadu. Both governments are facing legal hurdles in the release of these persons.
But the brigand has made it clear that the hostages will be freed only if TADA detenues and the prisoners were released. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi, after meeting his Karnataka counterpart S.M. Krishna, said the two clarifications sought by Veerappan were: The release of the prisoners and compensation to the victims of alleged atrocities by Special Task Force (STF) personnel. On releasing the prisoners, Karunanidhi said his government would give a concrete reply to the brigand by Aug 28. On compensating the victims, the government had already vacated the stay on the Justice Sadashiva Commission, which probed the atrocities, he added. Both Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had agreed to create a relief fund of Rs 10 crore to compensate the victims. Both governments would contribute Rs 5 crore each to the fund, he said.