TAMIL NADU Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi yesterday said the government should request for army assistance to nab notorious sandalwood smuggler Veerappan only as a last resort. He also said that certain irresponsible statements by some leaders had forced Veerappan to go back on his surrender offer.
Karunanidhi told the state assembly that though the date and venue for Veerappans surrender had been fixed, the brigand went back on his words after some leaders issued statements like he should be shot if he surrendered.
The Chief Minister also ruled out granting of general amnesty to Veerappan and asked him to surrender. The government would provide full security to his life and he would be kept in a special camp, guarded by police and prison authorities, Karunanidhi declared.
Veerappan should realise that his life would be in danger if he was not kept in a special camp as relatives of those killed by him would cry for revenge.
Karunanidhi said the government had to think twice before requesting for army assistance since the peaceful life of villagers in the forests would be endangered if the army entered the villages.
He stoutly denied AIADMK member R. Tamaraikanis charge of a nexus between him and Veerappan.
Meanwhile, in New Delhi Karnataka Chief Minister J.H. Patel said Karnataka and Tamil Nadu may seek Centres assistance for the release of the six hostages held by Veerappan if the ongoing efforts for their release failed.
Patel, who arrived in Delhi Monday night, met home minister Indrajit Gupta yesterday and briefed him on the efforts being made by the two states for the release of the six persons taken hostage by Veerappan last week.
The hostages, two wildlife photographers and four forest department personnel, were abducted on October 9 from the Bandipur National Park in Karnataka by Veerappan who is demanding among other things total amnesty.
Patel told reporters here that the primary concern of both the states was to secure the release of the hostages.
Patel said he was confident that Karunanidhi would succeed in his efforts to persuade Tamil journalist, R.R. Gopal to negotiate the release of the hostages. Gopal, editor of Nakheeran, who had earlier met Veerappan when he had abducted several state government officials recently, has refused to meet Veerappan this time.
