Talking to mediapersons, he denied that the three captives -- Nettrikan reporter Payumpuli, Advocate Krishnasamy and videographer Richard Mohan -- and Nettrikan editor AS Mani (who has since been released) were sent as Government emissaries to urge Veerappan to surrender.

The Chennai city police commissioner and STF's joint commander P Kalimuthu had even advised them against venturing into the forests.

The Chief Minister appealed to Veerappan to surrender immediately as the Karnataka Government had stated it had no objection in conducting the trial against him in Tamil Nadu courts. The Karnataka Government would not oppose any plea by Veerappan in the Supreme Court for transferring cases against him from Karnataka to Tamil Nadu.

Karunanidhi said JH Patel, his Karnatakacounterpart, with whom he had a telephonic talk two days ago, had told him that if Veerappan surrendered, the assurances given by both the State Governments on August 9, 1997 would be implemented in full.

Asked if Tamil Nadu would seek the Centre's help to nab the brigand, he said this could be decided only after holding talks with Patel. If this was done, then the Army had to enter into the forests in search of Veerappan, he said, adding that the brigand might not bring about such a situation.

TERRORISM BILL: On the "The Tamil Nadu Prevention of Terrorists Activities (POTA) Bill, 1998" passed by the Assembly, he said the Bill was not introduced to appease the BJP-led coalition Government at the Centre and thereby prevent the dismissal of his Government. The Bill was mainly to curb terrorist activities, he said, adding that it would be invoked even against the DMK or BJP cadres if they indulged in terrorism. The provisions of the Bill would not be misused for political purposes, he reiterated. Hedenied that the Bill was a mere copy of the now defunct Terrorists and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) and pointed out that some of the stringent provisions in TADA had not been incorporated in the TN Bill.

On the visit of Governor M Fathima Beevi to New Delhi even as rumours were afloat that the DMK Government might be dismissed, the Chief Minister said he was told that the Governor had gone to New Delhi only to pay a courtesy call on Vajpayee.