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'Even if the whole landscape becomes an ocean, I will not surrender'

In an anti-climax, elusive poacher and sandalwood smuggler Veerappan has declared that he would never surrender to the authorities, and would hunt with the same vigour for another 25 years.

In an audio cassette sent to Nakkeeran magazine editor R R Gopal on Monday, Veerappan denied reports in the media about his imminent surrender. He said reports that his health was failing and he was suffering fron asthma and other diseases were baseless.

"I am hale and hearty and even if the whole landscape becomes an ocean, I will not surrender," the bandit, who has so far killed over 100 people and 2,000 elephants in the forests bordering Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, declared.

He said his three young associates who surrendered to the Tamil Nadu police last fortnight acted in haste.

Gopal, who released copies of the cassette to the media in Madras, said he would forward one to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.

The editor had earlier undertaken three trips to Veerappan's hideout and had secured the release of nine Karnataka forest personnel whom the brigand had held hostage.

Speculation was rife about Veerappan's imminent surrender when one of his close associates, Thuppakki Chithan, surrendered to the police through Gopal last week. Chithan had parted company with Veerappan six months ago.

Veerappan also denied reports that he had demanded a compensation of Rs 2.5 million for his surrender. At least Rs 20 million would be needed to provide relief to those who had been raped and tortured by the police during the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam regime, he said.

The forest brigand had indicated his surrender when he put forth several conditions, including general amnesty, after he abducted a group of tourists from the Bandipur forest last year.

While rejecting general amnesty outright, the two state governments had agreed to Veerappan's condition to transfer all cases pending against him in Karnataka to courts in Tamil Nadu.

UNI

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