A popular Indian film star kidnapped in July by a poacher and smuggler accused of 300 murders was released early yesterday, a high state official said.
Rajkumar's release came after months of tortuous negotiations between Veerappan, the outlawed bandit, and the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, the areas where most of his crimes were committed.
A statement by N Karunanidhi, the chief minister of Tamil Nadu, said: "Rakjumar was released early this morning. Rajkumar informed me that he is hale and hearty."
It wasn't immediately clear why Veerappan, 56, had agreed to let Rajkumar go even though none of his demands, including the release of 51 of his accomplices from prison, had been met.
The statement said the 72-year-old movie icon was in Erode, a town 450km northwest of Madras, the capital of Tamil Nadu, and was headed toward Bangalore, Karnataka's capital.
Police in both the states said they had no information about Rajkumar's release.
Like many people in southern India, the bandit and the actor use only one name.
United News of India news agency quoted another actor, Ambareesh, as saying that Rajkumar had been taken to a guest house.
The Supreme Court on Nov. 7 blocked attempts by the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments to free 51 of Veerappan's convicted accomplices, who were serving sentences for murder, sandalwood smuggling and poaching, in return for Rajkumar's safety.
The kidnapping of Rajkumar on July 30, a veteran of more than 200 Kannada-language movies, had sparked violent strikes in the region, as people demonstrated and demanded quick government action to free him,
Veerappan has eluded the police for more than 30 years by using his knowledge of the jungle, where he is based. He is also protected by forest hunters and farmers who admire him.
During his captivity, Rajkumar had been seen on television and heard on radio because Veerappan sent video and audio cassettes out of the jungle with a newspaper editor who was used by the government as a mediator in the negotiations.
Rajkumar had said he was in good health and urged his supporters not to commit violence. Actors and directors in the Kannada-language film industry had gone on strike for several weeks to demand his release.
Rajkumar's son-in-law, SA Govindaraj, who had been kidnapped with him, was freed Oct. 16. Another kidnap victim, a friend of the family, escaped on Sept. 28.
There was no immediate word on the third man who had been taken away with Rajkumar when Veerappan and his gang invaded their new vacation home in forested hills near the border between the two states after a housewarming party on July 30.
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