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Nedumaran enacted drama to
get me freed, says Rajakumar

Fakir Chand in Bangalore

Kannada matinee idol Dr Rajakumar revealed on Thursday that a filmy-style drama was enacted in forest brigand Veerappan's lair, at the behest of unofficial emissary and Tamil nationalist Pazha Nedumaran, to get him finally released along with associate Nagesh.

At a crowded media conference soon after his arrival from Coimbatore by helicopter, a weary and emotional Rajakumar spoke about the mystery surrounding his dramatic release from the clutches of the bandit on Tuesday night.

He startled the media by disclosing how Nedumaran had sent a three-member team led by a Bangalore-based lady doctor named Bhanu to the hideout with a brief to make him pretend that he was seriously ill so that Veerappan would turn compassionate and consider releasing him.

In the following narration, in Kannada, Rajakumar gave a blow-by-blow account of what transpired to end his 108-day jungle ordeal:

A few days after Nedumaran left the forest from his previous trip last month, along with other emissaries, I was surprised to see a lady being introduced to me by Veerappan's associates as a doctor from Bangalore along with two others (Ramkumar and Mani). I subsequently learnt that they were deputed by Nedumaran to enter the forest to check my health and enquire about my welfare.

Bhanu told me to pretend in front of Veerappan and his gang that I was seriously ill and suffering from a heart ailment.

When she told the outlaw that my life would be in danger if I had continued to stay in the forest, Veerappan got apprehensive and let me go off as he was warned that should anything happen to me, serious trouble would break out in Karnataka, endangering the lives of Tamils.

At the first sight of Bhanu, I couldn't believe my eyes. I was baffled how a woman could dare enter Veerappan's territory with two male strangers. When I was told that the team came at the behest of Nedumaran, I thought they were from Tamil Nadu and were in league with other Tamil nationalists.

On extending greetings in Tamil, saying vaangu [come] and vanakkam [salutations], I was in for a shock as Bhanu and Mani started addressing me in my mother tongue and said they hailed from 'my Bangalore'.

To listen to Bhanu in chaste Kannada was music to my ears as I had no touch with the outside world for over three months in the jungle, except through All India Radio's daily bulletins. She said she was sent by Nedumaran to get me freed.

Bhanu told me how life had become difficult during the last three months with socio-economic activity coming to a standstill on account of the unending hostage crisis. She hinted that some plans were underway to secure my release.

When Bhanu pleaded with Veerappan to spare my life and let me go with them, the fugitive sent a tape with her to Nedumaran, with a message that he should come to the jungle again to negotiate my release. Three, four days passed after Nedumaran entered the forest Bhanu and her two colleagues came with a message to enact the drama.

Though Rajakumar pleasantly related the drama to the media, he was interrupted twice, once by his second son Raghavendra, and later by Bhanu, advising him to stop revealing everything.

Rajakumar said he may have stayed at 60 to 70 locations in the jungle, shifting sites every second or third day.

On one or two occasions, I remember staying at one or two places for more than a week or up to 10 days, as per Veerappan's strategy. He would take all precautions before deciding where to pitch the tents. He would also ensure that the hideout was not only out of anyone's reach, but also away from human gaze.

Rajakumar expressed anguish over the role of official emissary and Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal as he failed to secure his release despite making four trips to the jungle and meeting Veerappan.

Every time Gopal came to us and returned without us, I used to get disappointed as all the hopes he would raise with his every trip used to get dashed later.

The matinee idol also narrated how he offered to be shot dead by Veerappan after the prolonged hostage crisis turned serious with the sensational escape of Nagappa Mardagi in the last week of September.

For the first time I feared for my life though I was not scared to sacrifice it for the sake of the people and in the interests of my state. After Nagappa escaped, Veerappan's gang became restive and suspicious of us. They tied all of us with ropes, fearing that we too would run away.

When I assured Veerappan that I had no intention to run away till freed and would rather die in the jungle than escape, he quickly came to me and untied the knots.

The Rajakumar Abduction: complete coverage
The saga of Veerappan

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