ANDHIYUR, August 3: The notorious outlaw Veerappan, who is holding nine Karnataka Forest Depratment staff hostage deep in the forests, demanding a general amnesty from the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, is sticking to his stand, and there are apprehensions about the safety of the governments' emmisary Gopal, editor of Nakkeeran, a Tamil magazine, as his return is delayed. The governments had turned down the elusive poacher-turned-sandalwood smuggler's plea for amnesty, and Gopal had entered the forests for the second time to convey this to Veerappan. The poacher is reportedly holding the hostages at Maniyachi. Meanwhile, the hostage drama has entered the 22nd day.

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