Even when Veerappan kidnapped noted photographers Kripakar and Senani, Gopal was to negotiate on behalf of the Karnataka government. Things are not smooth for Gopal this time, though. Veerappan is said to be an unhappy man as his demands have not been fully met on previous occasions by the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The speculation now is that Veerappan wants nothing less than total amnesty. The stakes are high for both chief ministers S M Krishna and M Karunanidhi as the issue is sensitive and can any time take communal overtones.
All eyes are on the firebrand editor now.