Talking to mediapersons, Kalimuthu said that the three accused- Anburaj (22), Abdul (23) and Thangapaiyan (21) (hailing from Andiyur village in Erode)- have been with Veerappan for the last two years and were involved in the kidnapping of a scientist Mytrayee from Bandipur Wild Life Sanctuary a few years ago.

The STF Joint Commandant said the trio had surrendered before him through Tamil weekly Netrikan editor A S Mani and an advocate S Krishnasamy. Mani claimed that Veerappan had sent a feeler last week through one of his reporter that he was willing to surrender. Following this, a reporter of Netrikan went to the forest and met the trio waiting for him at a spot in Bandipur. He claimed that the trio were sent by Veerappan and had not come on their own.