CHENNAI, Aug 7: Notorious sandalwood smuggler Veerappan has demanded a ransom of Rs 5 crore for the release of the remaining eight hostages if the government does not grant general amnesty, Nakkeeran Editor and emissary of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments R R Gopal said on Thursday. Veerappan has set a deadline of August 15 for the two governments to decide on the issue.

Talking to media persons after showing video clippings of his talks with the forest brigand during his recent visit, Gopal said Veerappan had made it clear that he would not accept anything less than general amnesty and ruled out surrender before the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments.

Gopal, who had gone to the forests for the second time within a few weeks to negotiate the release of the nine hostages, said Veerappan was adamant and there was no way one could reason with him. ``He refused to even look at the papers containing the message of the two Chief Ministers and asked ``me if I had brought the letter granting general amnesty.''

Gopal, who brought back Forest Watcher Raju, one of the hostage released by Veerappan, on Wednesday, screened video recordings of his interaction with Veerappan and his associates. Gopal showed video recordings of the hostages being kept handcuffed and chained. Gopal said the forest brigand had chained the hostages after he heard over the radio that the Chief Ministers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had rejected the demand for general amnesty for him and his associates. The chains were removed only on Gopal's request. Raju could be seen sobbing. Gopal said Raju was shivering with fever following an insect bite. The clippings clearly showed the wound. Gopal said two of the nine Karnataka forest personnel abducted by the fugitive gang were almost killed by Veerappan on July 27, as the forest brigand was very angry that his demands were not met with. Veerappan dragged two of the hostages and made preparations to execute them. He threatened to behead them. However, when the second-in-command, Sethukuzhi Govindan, who was entrusted with the responsibility of guarding the hostages, came to know of the decision of Veerappan, rushed to the spot to dissuade him. Copies of the cassette, already seen by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi have been sent to the Karnataka government. Gopal said it was up to the two governments to decide on the ransom, but made it clear that Veerappan was not relenting. Despite making repeated requests to release the hostages as a goodwill measure, Veerappan did not budge. ``I told him that if he released the hostages, it would give a message to the people that after all Veerappan is a nice man. I told him he release at least four hostages. But he did not accept it. It took me six hours to convince Veerappan that he should release at least the hostage who was sick. He agreed only five minutes before our departure.

'' The clippings showed that Veerappan's associates too were insistent on the grant of general amnesty, with Sethukuzhi Govindan, who is the next in command saying that nothing else was acceptable to the gang. Others including Rangasamy and Madesh, also declared that they would follow their leader.

Gopal said this time the Nakkeeran team had to trek a longer distance and the instructions and signals were different from those on the last occasion. ``It was a frightening experience as a slight mistake could have cost my life. Veerappan's instructions were very precise.''

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.