Bangalore: Karnataka government is in touch with local Janata Dal- United (JD-U) leader Mahadevaswamy to send a message through All India Radio (AIR) to forest brigand Veerappan, in an apparent move to assure the bandit that it is working on mediation to secure the release of former minister H Nagappa.

"We are trying to send a message through Mahadevaswamy so that he (Veerappan) will also realise that the government is responsive to his request (to send emissaries to him)", Karnataka Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said, a day after the eight-day deadline set by the brigand ended.

Veerappan has demanded in the third cassette sent to the family of Nagappa on October 6 that Tamil activist Kollathur Mani and Mahadevaswamy be sent as mediators to him within eight days, failing he had threatened to harm the hostage.

Kharge said officials were in contact with Mahadevaswamy to send the message so that the legal hurdles faced by the government in sending Mani as an emissary could also be explained to Veerappan.

Mani, facing five cases on different counts, including supplying explosives to Veerappan, is in Bellary jail in Karnataka. The High Court has posted his bail application for this week and he can go as an emissary only if he obtains bail.

Government was also trying to ascertain from Mahadevaswamy if he was willing to undertake the mission to the jungles alone or along with somebody else, Kharge said.

On another front, Chief Minister S M Krishna spoke to Defence Minister George Fernandes and sought his good offices to speak to Tamil leaders including Ramdoss, if they could help in ending the 52-day old hostage crisis.

"Fernandes assured the Chief Minister that he is trying his best and he would see how the issue could be clinched," Kharge said.

Mahadevaswamy is expected to meet Krishna and Kharge in Bangalore on October 15 or 16.

PTI