Maradagi celebrates Nagappa's return

By Our Special Correspondent

MARADAGI (DHARWAD TALUK), DEC. 1. Mr. Nagappa Maradagi, who escaped from the clutches of Veerappan, made a triumphant return to his native village of Maradagi, 12 km. from Dharwad on Friday, to put an end to speculations about his failure to reappear in public even after the release of Mr. Rajkumar.

There was jubilation among the people of the village, situated off Dharwad-Navalgund Road, over his return. The villagers embraced Mr. Nagappa, who came in a van under police escort, took him in a procession in a specially decorated tractor, and later felicitated him at the village temple.

On Thursday, Mr. Nagappa had appeared before the Karnataka High Court, where a case for securing his presence was pending and where his deposition was taken `in camera'.

Mr. Nagappa, who was felicitated by the members of the Dharwad Bar Association earlier, reached Maradagi shortly after 1 p.m.

Replying to felicitations at his village, he spoke against Veerappan, and demanded that an operation be launched to nab the forest brigand.

`Rajkumar was aware of escape plan'

Addressing presspersons, Mr. Nagappa said he had told Mr. Rajkumar about his plans to escape. "But I took to my heels without waiting for a response from annavaru," he added.

According to Mr. Nagappa, Mr. Rajkumar was worried on hearing over the radio that his wife, Ms. Parvathamma Rajkumar, was not in good health. "I very much wanted to see Ms. Parvathamma and convey to her news about Mr. Rajkumar," he said. That was what prompted him to escape from the forests, he added.

He said that there was a threat to his life (from Veerappan), and that he had to flee for his own sake. Though no direct threats had been held out, he could perceive from the movements of Veerappan and the other members of the brigand's gang that they were planning to kill him "as early as possible".

Mr. Nagappa said that on hearing that the hands of Mr. Rajkumar and the other hostages were tied after his escape, he regretted having escaped and felt that he ought not to have left Mr. Rajkumar.

He refused to comment on the good words spoken about him by Mr. Rajkumar. "Please ask annavaru about it," he said.

Mr. Nagappa said that as soon as he returned to Bangalore, he met the Chief Minister, Mr. S.M. Krishna, and the Home Minister, Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge. "They gave me police protection... I am not that great a person as to ask them why they had given me police protection," he remarked.

He reiterated that nobody had threatened him (following his release) and he did not have to fear any person. He denied that he was under "house arrest". There were reports that he was not being seen in public because of a "communication gap", he said. He was taking rest in Bangalore since his health had deteriorated. His wife could not also leave him. It was because of this that his daughter, Divya, could not be sent to school. His parents and relatives faced difficulty locating him because he had not informed any person of his whereabouts, Mr. Nagappa said.

He said Mr. Rajkumar was happy to see him and that the film star embraced him.

On his life in the forests, Mr. Nagappa said it was the worst experience of his life. The food that he was given was not fit for consumption. "We had to eat it for want of an alternative," he said.

Mr. Nagappa described Veerappan as a "wicked person" who should be brought to book. He said the operations against the brigand should be launched without delay. If the Government desired, he would like to re-enter forests in police uniform to help the Government nab the brigand.

Veerappan had around 10 persons with him, and each of them was armed with an SLR and .303 rifle, Mr. Nagappa said. While he was in the forests, he had not seen Mr. Shanmuga Sundaram, Ms. Bhanu or Mr. Ramkumar. There was only Mr. R.R. Gopal of Nakkeeran, who used to come to the brigand's hideout accompanied by two others carrying bags. "What was in the bags, I do not know," Mr. Nagappa said.

He said he was unaware of any links between Veerappan, the LTTE and the granite lobby.

Mr. Nagappa said that he would remain in his native village for two days.

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