N Sathiya Moorthy in Chennai
The Karnataka government is planning to ask two associates of jailed Tamil Nationalist Movement leader P Nedumaran to act as emissaries to negotiate the release of former minister H Nagappa, abducted by forest brigand Veerappan.
The duo — Sugumaran, a human rights activist in Pondicherry, and Professor S Kalyani, a college lecturer in Villuppuram — had previously accompanied Nedumaran and pan-Tamil activist ‘Kolathur’ Mani to negotiate the release of abducted Kannada matinee icon Rajakumar in 2000.
Their friends, however, say the attitude of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments towards earlier emissaries on similar missions may force them to reject the assignment.
Mani has been detained by the Karnataka government for allegedly supplying explosives to Veerappan, and is housed in the Bellary central jail.
Tamil Nadu has detained Sivasubramanian, a reporter of Tamil bi-weekly magazine Nakkeeran, who was the first journalist to interview the brigand a decade ago. He was picked up by the Karnataka police, allegedly near his village house inside Tamil Nadu, and transferred to the custody of the Tamil Nadu police recently.
Nakkeeran editor R Rajagopal was also interrogated extensively by the Tamil Nadu police on his alleged links with Veerappan.
Nedumaran has been detained under the Prevention of Terrorism Act for his speeches in support of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.
Given this scenario, Sugumaran and Kalyani fear that there may be police harassment, imprisonment, and interrogation later. They also feel that the differences between both governments on how to handle Nagappa’s abduction could lead to them being picked up en route, or followed into Veerappan’s den, or even becoming hostages.
They are also keen to avoid the stigma of being associated with the brigand, which both governments have been foisting on earlier emissaries.
Officially, the Karnataka government does not want to commit itself to the choice of new emissaries until it receives acceptance from the emissaries and the brigand.
The sensitive nature of the mission and any perceived rejection at any stage could cause consternation in Nagappa’s family and among followers of the kidnapped politician.
But the state government is adamant on not sending Mani as an emissary as he is serving a prison sentence. Releasing him for the journey into the jungles would mean having to tackle several legal issues.
Mani too is reluctant to go back to the jungles, and has appealed, through All India Radio, to the brigand to release Nagappa.
Rediff.com / 17.09.2002.
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