India celebrates film star's release

Rajkumar fans are jubilant

There have been scenes of celebration on the streets of the southern Indian city of Bangalore following the release of the one of the country's most famous film actors, Rajkumar.

The star, aged 72, had been held in a forest hideout for more than three months by one of the country's most notorious bandits, Veerappan.

He is our living legend. We are so overcome with joy to hear that he has been released

Rajkumar fan

Relatives gathered at the actor's house to give thanks and prepare for his homecoming, and by evening the street outside was littered with spent firecrackers.

One of his daughters told the BBC she expected her father home early on Thursday morning.

He had already been given a medical check-up and was in good health, she added.

As news of Rajkumar's release spread earlier in the day, his fans celebrated, setting off firecrackers and distributing sweets.

"He is our living legend. We are so overcome with joy to hear that he has been released," one fan, Mallikarjun, said.

Veerappan is India's most wanted man

Police were forced to barricade Rajkumar's house to keep the fans at bay.

The news of the release was also greeted with relief by government officials who have faced considerable embarrassment over the hostage crisis.

"We have many lessons to learn from this experience," Karnataka Chief Minister, SM Krishna, said in Bangalore.

Deadlock

It is as yet unclear whether any concessions were made to Veerappan to gain the star's release but officials say Rajkumar's health had caused concern.

Rajkumar 's kidnapping had sparked big protests by fans

The authorities in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu had been negotiating for the actor's freedom.

"It was psychological warfare between the governments and Veerappan. Perhaps he ran out of patience," the Karnataka chief minister said.

Veerappan had made several demands, including the release of dozens of jailed comrades.

The state governments made moves towards meeting those demands - but a plan to release the bandit's associates from prison was blocked by the Supreme Court.

The BBC's Jill McGivering in Delhi says that ruling appeared to cause a deadlock in the crisis.

Veerappan and his gang, said to number about 15, have terrorised police and forest authorities in three southern Indian states - Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala - for nearly two decades.

Now in his mid-50s, Veerappan is accused of killing more than 100 people and smuggling millions of dollars worth of sandalwood and ivory.