Veerappan held Rajkumar in high esteem: TNM leader

Chennai, Apr 12 (UNI) Slain forest brigand Veerappan held Kannada Matinee Idol Rajumar in high esteem during his 105-day captivity in dense forests, Tamil Nationalist Movement (TNM) leader P Nedumaran, who acted as an emissary in securing the actor's release, today said.

Expressing shock over the death of Dr Rajkumar at Bangalore, the septuagenarian leader told UNI that Veerappan had never treated the actor as an hostage during captivity.

The brigand held the actor in high respect and treated him with dignity.

''Dr Rajkumar, who was abducted by Veerappan from his Gajanur Farm House in 2000 and released after 105 days in captivity, looked like a 'Yogi', when I first met him in the forest,'' he said.

After securing the safe release of Dr Rajkumar after prolonged negotiations, Veerappan gave the actor an emotional send off.

''Both of them separated as friends...not as a captor and captive,'' Mr Nedumaran recalled.

''It was a touching moment as Veerappan gave new clothes to Dr Rajkumar, who reciprocated it and presented the brigand a medal of Goddess Chamundeswari,'' the TNM leader said.

During captivity, Veerappan treated the actor in a humane way and cooperated well right through the negotiation process, before agreeing to free Dr Rajkumar, he added.

Expressing shock over Dr Rajkumar's death, Mr Nedumaran described him as a humble and good person. He commanded great respect and was admired by the people of Karnataka.

Mr Nedumaran expressed his heartfelt condolences to the actor's wife Parvathamma and his family members.

UNI GV RP HT1740