Bangalore: Opposition Janata Dal – United (JD-U) on December 26 alleged that Karnataka government's action in launching cases against Tamil activist Kolathur Mani was the prime cause for the kidnap of former minister H Nagappa by forest brigand Veerappan.

JD-U Legislature group leader P G R Sindhia, initiating a debate on the Nagappa issue in the Assembly, disapproved the state government moves in booking cases against those who played a role in securing the safe release of Kannada thespian Rajkumar who has abducted by the outlaw in July 2000.

Sindhia blamed the Centre also for being responsible for the killing of Nagappa alleging that it failed to come to the rescue of the state in ending the hostage crisis.

He charged that though the state was aware of the threat to Nagappa's life from the brigand, it did not provide the 'Y' category security and urged that at least now the family members of the slain leader including his wife Parimala be given adequate security.

Sindhia claimed that some unidentified persons were involved in an encounter with the Veerappan gang in Chengady forest area, where Nagappa was killed on December 5.

He said locals of the area have been saying that two rigs were sinking borewells in the area on December 4 and they heard gunshots and demanded the government to make public what had really happened. The borewells were being sunk apparently to drown the sound of gunshot, he said.

The state government did not make sincere efforts in saving Nagappa from the bandit's clutches, he alleged.

PTI