Chennai: The Crime Branch (CB) Criminal Investigative Department (CID) of Tamil Nadu
police on January 29 arrested a Coimbatore-based reporter of Tamil bi-
weekly 'Nakeeran' in connection with the murder of a youth, allegedly by forest
brigand Veerappan in 1998.
Nakeeran sources said the CB CID officer of a deputy superintendent of police (DSP)
rank, who arrested the reporter Makaran alias Krishna Kumar from his residence at
Coimbatore at 5.30 am (IST), was a member of the special investigation team formed
to nab Veerappan.
The sources alleged that the police was trying to uncover evidence to link not only
the reporter with Veerappan but also 'Nakeeran' editor R R Gopal, who was involved
in negotiations to free Kannada film actor Rajkumar, who was abducted by Veerappan
in July 2000.
Alleging that the reporter was manhandled by the police, the sources said they had
sent telegrams to the Centre and state governments and the Supreme Court informing
them of the arrest of the reporter.
PTI
