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Gopal likely to get message from Veerappan soon

Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna said on Tuesday that he had received information from Tamil Nadu that Nakkeeran Editor R R Gopal was likely to get a message from Kannada superstar Rajakumar's abductor Veerappan at any moment.

Krishna said in Bangalore that he has been maintaining contact with his Tamil Nadu counterpart M Karunanidhi on an hourly basis to resolve the crisis triggered by the abduction of Rajakumar and three others.

The chief minister said he had a telephonic talk with Karunanidhi on Monday night and requested him to expedite Gopal's deployment as an emissary to negotiate the release of the captives.

He said top officials, including Chief Secretary B K Bhattacharya, Director General of Police C Dinakar and others had been working in unison and keeping in touch with Tamil Nadu officials.

Krishna renewed his appeal to the people of Karnataka to co-operate with the government in maintaining law and order and assured them of every effort to secure Rajakumar's release.

Gopal is likely to meet Karunanidhi later in the day before proceeding to the forest with three colleagues.

Gopal left Madras early on Tuesday to visit the Perambalur residence of one of his reporters, Selvaraj, who was hacked to death on Monday.

On Monday night, Gopal had told reporters that he was awaiting a signal from the brigand before leaving for the forest.

In a related development, Veerappan's wife Muthulakshmi told reporters in Salem that her husband would not harm the actor. "My husband is a kind man and will not go for revenge," Muthulakshmi, who lives in Cauvery Palam near Mettur, said.

Describing Rajakumar's abduction as 'unfortunate', Tamil Maanila Congress president G K Moopanar said he prayed for his safe and early release.

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