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Karnataka clears emissary to secure release of Rajkumar

Our Bureau

BANGALORE, Aug. 1

KARNATAKA has formally cleared Mr. R.R. Gopal, Editor of Nakkeeran, as the emissary to secure the release of the Kannada superstar, Mr. Rajkumar, and his associates.

It was hoped that Mr. Gopal would leave for the forests on Tuesday night. However, the editor has delayed his departure as one of his staff reporters was killed.

The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, announced on Tuesday afternoon that as per Mr. Gopal's request, the Karnataka Government had sent a letter assuring him of full protection as negotiator. The letter was despatched to the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to be handed over to Mr. Gopal.

He was chosen by the two States on Monday to negotiate with Veerappan for the release of the hostages.

``With this, Karnataka has done everything that is necessary

to enable him to go on this highly sensitive and important mission,'' a tense Mr. Krishna said.

He denied certain television reports that fresh security action had been started against the forest brigand. ``All operations in connection with Veerappan have been called off since Monday. Unfortunately, some electronic media have been beaming the wrong message that our operations have been initiated again,'' he said.

A senior IPS officer was to be stationed from Monday night in Chennai to coordinate the joint efforts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka.

Meanwhile, a bandh was observed in several parts of Karnataka on the second day of the kidnap. Schools in the State will remain closed on Wednesday also. A high-level police meeting was called on Tuesday evening to take stock of the situation.

In Bangalore, except pharmacies, all shops, establishments and offices were closed. Buses did not ply on the roads. There were long queues in front of the handful of petrol pumps that were open.

The Government has also indefinitely postponed a two-day conference of the mining industry. The Karnataka Minerals Conference 2000 was slated to be held here on August 3 and 4. The Mines Minister, Mr. V. Muniappa, said the conference would be held after the situation normalised.