November 24, 2002	Sunday	Ramazan 18, 1423

BANGALORE, Nov 23: The government of the southern Indian state of Karnataka said on Saturday it may drop criminal charges against a Tamil nationalist leader in a bid to defuse a 91-day-old hostage crisis.

“The government is exploring all possibilities including withdrawal of all cases filed against Kolathur Mani,” said Kagodu Thimmappa, minister for information.

India’s most wanted bandit Koose Muniswamy Veerappan has been holding a former Karnataka minister, Hannur Nagappa, hostage since Aug 25.

Veerappan, a Tamil who is known for his trademark handlebar moustache, set a 12-day deadline starting Nov 21 if Mani is not released from jail and appointed mediator in the kidnap saga.

Mani was arrested by the Karnataka government for supplying arms and ammunition to the notorious bandit, who achieved worldwide notoriety two years ago when he kidnapped a movie icon, Rajkumar.

The government’s decision to consider sending Mani as emissary came after day-long meetings with the opposition parties and an emergency cabinet session.

“It was the unanimous opinion of all the parties and the state cabinet that on humanitarian grounds all options should be weighed to secure the safe release of Nagappa,” said D.B. Chandre Gowda, Karnataka’s Law Minister.

“The government has discussed all legal options and how to overcome the legal hurdles, including steps to secure bail for Mani,” Gowda said.

“A final decision will be conveyed to the public prosecutor within two days.”

On Thursday a former Indian police chief claimed the Karnataka government paid a 200-million-rupee ransom to a bandit to secure the release of Rajkumar.

C. Dinakar, who headed the southern Karnataka state’s police department two years ago when Veerappan kidnapped Rajkumar, revealed in a book the state’s chief minister had also spoken with the bandit over a mobile phone.—AFP