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TN blames Karnataka for kidnap crisis

Tamil Nadu has blamed Karnataka for not informing it about Kannada film superstar Dr Rajakumar's visit to his Gajanur farm house on July 30 despite knowing that he was facing the threat of being kidnapped by notorious forest brigand Veerappan. Gajanur lies in Tamil Nadu.

"About a year ago, it was learnt that Veerappan might attempt to kidnap Dr Rajakumar," the Tamil Nadu Government said in its affidavit before the Supreme Court while replying to the Public Interest Litigation filed by B L Wadhera.

"This information was shared with the Karnataka police, which had requested Tamil Nadu police that adequate security arrangements may be provided to Dr Rajakumar, whenever he visited Tamil Nadu," the affidavit, filed by the deputy secretary in the home department of the state, A S Dhamaraj, said.

The Karnataka police had also informed that their Tamil Nadu counterparts would be kept informed about the tour programme of Dr Rajakumar whenever he was to visit that state.

"However, no information was received about the visit of Dr Rajakumar to his farm house around July 30," the affidavit said indicating that had such information been given adequate security arrangements could have been made and Veerappan might not have succeeded in kidnapping the film star.

The Tamil Nadu government also gave details of two such earlier lapses on the part of Karnataka police. "Earlier on June 22, Dr Rajakumar visited Thalavadi for house a warming ceremony. No information was given by Dr Rajakumar or the Karnataka police about his programme."

"Police received the information through local people and police bandobast was provided," it said.

The deputy secretary said Dr Rajakumar was advised to give advance information about his programme so that proper security arrangements could be made. However, the cine star rejected the advise, he added.

Giving details of the second lapse, the secretary said, "Dr Rajakumar's visit to Doddakanjur on July 28 was again without any notice to the Tamil Nadu police."

Coming to the dropping of charges against associates of Veerappan as demanded by the bandit, the Tamil Nadu government said, "Decisions of the Supreme Court would show that broader considerations of public peace, larger considerations of public justice and even deeper consideration of promotion of long lasting security in a locality may persuade the executive to sacrifice pending cases for a wider benefit although such power is to be exercised sparingly."

The Tamil Nadu government said, "Exploring the possibility of a negotiated solution to a hostage crisis is not wholly unprecedented," and gave examples of terrorists being released, like during the recent hijacking episode and when former Union home minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed's daughter Rubaiya Sayeed was kidnapped.

PTI

EARLIER REPORTS
Dr Rajakumar turned down security
Veerappan sends fresh demands on tape
Veerappan's new demands difficult to meet
Two govts accept Veerappan's demands, Gopal to meet brigand again

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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