Bangalore: The process to establish contact with forest bandit Veerappan to end the 53 day-old abduction crisis involving former Minister H Nagappa was set in motion on October 16 with All India Radio (AIR) airing a message by local Janata Dal United (JD-U) leader Ponnachi Mahadevaswamy to the outlaw that he is willing to negotiate with him.

The recorded message of the Kollegal taluk unit JD-U president, Mahadevaswamy, whom the fugitive has chosen as an emissary along with jailed Tamil activist, Kolathur Mani was broadcast on October 16, security advisor to the Karnataka government T Srinivasulu said.

Karnataka DGP T Madiyal said Mahadevaswamy has asked Veerappan to respond whether he was willing to talk to him if he ventured into forests alone, in the light of the brigand's insistence that he accompany Mani for negotiations.

Mahadevaswamy has outlined the legalities that were involved in Mani being enlarged on bail, a process, which is likely to take some more time.

He has also appealed to Veerappan to release Nagappa on humanitarian grounds and said he would meet him after Mani was enlarged on bail to discuss his demands.

Mani is currently lodged in Bellary jail in connection with five cases launched against him including one under Terrorist And Disruptive Activities-prevention Act (TADA) his bail applications pending before the state High Court were expected to come up for hearing sometime this week or early next week.

As the eight-day deadline set by Veerappan to send the two emissaries to negotiate the release of Nagappa came to an end, the Chief Minister, S M Krishna summoned Mahadevaswamy on October 15 to ascertain whether he would play the role of the negotiator.

PTI