Bangalore: Forest Brigand Veerappan has insisted that Tamil activist Kollathur Mani or Karnataka minister Raju Gowda should be sent as an emissary to negotiate the release of Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader H Nagappa who is in his captivity for the last 71 days.

Veerappan has made this demand in the fourth cassette, which he has sent to the family of Nagappa, according to his son Preetham and son-in-law Kiran Patel.

Speaking to reporters after handing over the cassette to Home Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, Pritam and Patel said that the bandit has not set any deadline.

They said that Veerappan has refused to accept Kollegal taluk JD-U leader Mahadevswamy as an emissary if he is sent alone.

Kharge heard the cassette and was closeted with security advisor Srinivaslu and state director general of police (DGP) T Madiyal.

PTI