Deadline for Veerappan's surrender advanced

The Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments, responding to forest brigand Veerappan's desire to surrender, have asked the outlaw to give himself up before October 31.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and his Karnataka counterpart J H Patel made the proposal jointly after listening to Veerappan's taped message.

The outlaw, who released the six hostages in his custody on October 21, had sent an audio cassette through them, expressing his desire to surrender and serve a jail term.

The fugitive could let the governments know the exact date and place of his surrender through another cassette, the chief ministers said.

Talking to newsmen later, Karunanidhi said the eight point package of concessions offered by the two governments in August would form the basis for the surrender and that it would take place in public in Patel and his presence.

He was confident the brigand would surrender if no attempts were made to scuttle the move. More abductions, he warned, would result if that happened.

There has been a marked change in Veerappan's attitude this time -- he had expressed a willingness to undergo a jail term if the authorities assured him on All India Radio that his interests would be protected.

Karunanidhi said a special jail camp for Veerappan would be readied the moment the brigand disclosed the date of his surrender.

EARLIER REPORT:
Karnataka sets deadline for Veerappan's surrender