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Karnataka wants to send Soliga tribesmen as emissaries

The Karnataka government is planning to send Soliga tribesmen as emissaries to resolve the crisis created by the abduction of former state minister Nagappa, even as the hostage drama entered its 22nd day on Sunday.

Jyothi Prakash Mirji, the chief of Karnataka Special Task Force held a meeting with the Soliga tribal leaders in this regard.

Sudarshan, who is working with the tribals through his non-governmental organisation Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra, convened the meeting.

The Soligas, on whom Veerappan is dependent on for his necessities and intelligence network, had seen the brigand and his hostage on numerous occasions near the B R Hills forest range.

Sudharshan said that the Soligas would support the negotiations with their network and would act as mediators if Veerappan agrees.

Sudharshan also told rediff.com that he is also willing to act as an emissary, provided the brigand agrees.

In a related development, Kolluthur Mani, Veerappan's choice to be the emissary, in a recorded message on All India Radio on Sunday, requested forest brigand to release Nagappa immediately.

STF sources have also said that Mani has sent a personal letter through his brother Palanisamy to Veerappan.

The Karnataka government had rushed its Principal Security Adviser T Srinivasulu on Friday to get Mani's message recorded from the Bellary jail, where he is in judicial custody on criminal charges of aiding and abetting Veerappan.

Appealing in Tamil, Mani told Veerappan that he had heard both the tapes sent by him [Veerappan] to Karnataka chief minister S M Krishna, and reminded the brigand that as per his wishes, the STF had suspended its combing operations against him in the forest range.

Meanwhile, Nagappa's wife, Parimala, also appealed to the brigand on the radio and acknowledged the receipt of his second cassette.

She pleaded with Veerappan to send Nagappa back from the forest and settle all his grievances or demands with the government through negotiations.

H Nagappa Abduction: Complete coverage
The Abduction of Dr Rajakumar
The Hunt for Veerappan

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