Veerappan sends BT a cassette

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">The cassette was found hanging on a tree opposite the Bangalore Times office on MG Road. It was obviously from Veerappan. So a beat constable brought it straight to us without informing Cubbon Park ACP Mulla or Inspector Naidu. It was really tough finding a cassette player for we use only CDs.<br />“I’m really irritated with you mediapersons,’’ he declared in his high-pitched voice.<br />“Every day you keep publishing reports quoting opposition leaders Byre Gowda, Nanaiah, Sindhia, Somashekar...and so on demanding the resignation of Somanahalli Mallaiah Krishna and Mallikarjun Kharge, forgetting that it was these worthies who forced the government to stop all combing operations.’’<br />“Did you know that within days of my kidnapping Nagappa, an STF team came within 200 feet of me and my men. I distinctly heard the STF boss ordering the men to return to base camp. ‘The government wants us to stop hunting for Veerappan.’’<br />“I couldn’t believe it. It keeps happening all the time. Sometimes STF teams from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka corner us in the thick jungle on the border and suddenly withdraw because they don’t want to stray into each other’s territory. I get the impression that the STF thinks the two states are two different countries.... ha, ha, ha.’’<br />“Yes, I’ve sent this message to you because yours is a lifestyle supplement. And I embody everything that’s aspirational. I would like to meet Lisa Sara John, your dietician. I want to tell her how all this exercising and organic food that my men and I consume in the lap of nature make us so lean and mean. No paunches, no signs of any sickness. I’ve got this good feeling I’m going to outlive Krishna and Jayalalithaa. And definitely Karunanidhi.’’<br />“I also want to consult Somayaji, the astrologer and vaastu expert, who says Krishna’s bad luck is because of bad vaastu in his home and office. I think that is only one of the factors. Because, if he can find a grain of courage in his being and fight me instead of announcing that ridiculous Rs two crore reward, he can change his fate.�<br />“Can you believe it? They found Nagappa’s body on Sunday and they have yet to begin hunting for me.’’<br />“I want you to commission C Dinakar to do an exclusive interview with me in the MM Hills. Sethukoli got a book couriered to my hideout from Mysore and I am convinced that Dinakar is the bravest man in Karnataka. He says so himself in his book!’’<br />“And yes, I would like to pose for the front page with two models. Prasad Bidapa could do the styling, Steven Bell could do my hair and moustache, Manoviraj Khosla could drape me in something macho and the caption could read Veerappan - The man who always has the last laugh.<br />PS: There was also a warning on Side 2. “Get cracking, otherwise I’m planning to come to Bangalore and kidnap some real big shot.’’<br /><span style="" font-style:="" italic="">allenmendonca1@indiatimes.com</span> </div> </div>