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November 17, 2000

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Punish Veerappan's backers first: Nedumaran

Shobha Warrier in Madras

Tamil Desiya Iyakkam (Tamil National Movement) leader Pazha Nedumaran has denied that ageing Kannada film star Rajakumar had feigned illness to win his freedom from the bandit Veerappan's captivity.

Addressing the press at his residence in Madras on Friday, Nedumaran distributed a statement by Rajakumar clarifying what had been reported about his press conference in Bangalore on Thursday.

Rajakumar's statement said: "A news item was brought to my notice that I earned my freedom by pretending to be ill and thereby evoking the sympathy of Veerappan. I have, in fact, been wrongly understood. When Dr Bhanu came to treat me for chest pain, she asked me how I was keeping my condition to myself when I was in such bad health. I replied that I had to pretend to be doing well in the present situation. I emphatically deny the distorted version of this being spread by a section of the media. I have never even thought of earning my freedom by such deceit."

The narrow lane leading to Nedumaran's house was jam-packed with vehicles half an hour before the press conference began. Outside the house, at least 100 journalists waited patiently for the Tamil Desiya Iyakkam leader to emerge. Some even perched on the compound wall to take better pictures.

With Nedumaran were human rights activists Professor Kalyani, P Sukumaran, Kolathur Mani and Srinivas, a former director general of police, Karnataka.

After a section of the press had played up Dr Bhanu's role, making it appear that she was instrumental in getting Veerappan to release the film star, the question everyone wanted to ask Nedumaran was, "What was your role in the operation?"

Nedumaran emphatically denied having struck any 'deal' with Veerappan. He argued that the word had no place in a "humanitarian mission". "Even Veerappan behaved in a humane way. He did not do any harm to Rajakumar or any other hostage in the 108 days. He looked after them as he could in the circumstances that he was in."

The TDI chief said Veerappan agreed to release Rajakumar and his nephew Nagesh only after the emissaries promised to carry on with efforts to secure the release of 51 associates of the bandit held in Karnataka under the Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act.

The release of the 51 persons was stopped by the Supreme Court, which upbraided the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu governments for going down on their knees before an outlaw. Veerappan had been demanding their release and also of seven others held in a Tamil Nadu jail.

Nedumaran said the bandit softened his stand after he and the other emissaries promised to follow up on the cases of the detainees and ensure their release by due process of the law. They assured him that hereafter it would be their responsibility to see that "innocent" persons were not punished.

"We have given him that word and it is our duty to carry on with the work from now on. We told him what we could do by the law of the land and what we could not. He understood what we were saying. It was then that he agreed to release Rajakumar and Nagesh."

Nakkheeran editor R R Gopal, the original emissary, was conspicuous by his absence at the press conference. Nedumaran said Gopal did not go to the jungle with them on the last mission because he could not reach the place in time. "So we just went ahead. But when we came back, he was there and he joined us."

As for Dr Bhanu's role, Nedumaran said, "Dr Bhanu has no role in the problems of the TADA detainees. She is no politician. Because Dr Rajakumar was not keeping well, it was Kolathur Mani who asked her whether she would go to the forests to see him. And she agreed."

Nedumaran said no police action should be initiated against Veerappan now. "It should be done only after action is taken against those who had committed a lot of crimes on the poor villagers. Everybody knows about the atrocities committed by the STF [Special Task Force]. Because of them, at least 90 people are put in jail without any trial. Sixty women were sexually harmed. Three hundred men became handicapped because of the cruelties of the police. Many live in fear. In such a situation, sending the STF again is not advisable at all."

The TDI politician said that only after the Sadashivam Commission [set up to look into allegations of atrocities against villagers living in the jungles] completes its work, the villagers are given compensation and the guilty are punished should the government send commandos again to the forests to capture Veerappan.

"Everybody knows how Veerappan became a big problem for both states. The socio-economic factors of the region played a major role in his rise. What are the crimes attributed to Veerappan? That he had killed many elephants and smuggled sandalwood. Do you think a single person can do this? Who were helping him? These things can be achieved only with political and bureaucratic help. If that is so, who are those politicians? Who are those bureaucrats? Why do you accuse Veerappan alone and not these people? The guilty are living happily in our society? Why do you pardon them?" Nedumaran said.

"What we want first is action against all those who are involved in these crimes, who have committed atrocities on the poor villagers. Action against Veerappan can be taken after that."

Nedumaran said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam had no connection with the hostage crisis. He also denied having paid any ransom to Veerappan.

He said the major success of his mission was to have reduced the strain in the relationship between Tamils and Kannadigas, which has long existed because of the Cauvery river waters dispute. "It is the duty of political parties on both sides to keep it up and I hope they will do that."

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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