97 DAKOTA TAILGATE TROUBLES

I got a 97 dakota.....the tailgate handle is shaved and relocated to the inside of the tailgate....the problem is I think one bars from inside the tailgate came off the latch....thus the tailgate wont open anymore........MY QUESTION IS HOW CAN OPEN THE TAILGATE SO I CAN CONNECT THAT BAR BACK 2 THE LATCH.......IM NOT SURE IF THERE WOULD EVEN BE A WAY THAT I CAN UNLATCH IT WITHOUT CUTTING A HOLE TOWARDS THE SIDE OF THE TAILGATE THE LATCH IS ON..............................IF ANYONE HAS CAME ACROSS A PROBLEM LIKE THIS AND HAS NECLUE...LET ME KNOW THANKS