Veerappan (1952–2004) was one of India’s most notorious bandits and poachers, known for his criminal operations in the forests of southern India. His life was marked by a long and violent career that evaded law enforcement for decades.
Early Life and Background
- Full Name: Koose Munisamy Veerappan
- Born: January 18, 1952, in Gopinatham, Karnataka, India
- Family Background: He grew up in a poor family, familiar with the forests from a young age. His father was a small-time poacher, which influenced his early interest in wildlife and crime.
Entry into Crime
Veerappan started his criminal activities in his teenage years. Initially, he was involved in small-scale poaching and sandalwood smuggling. He gradually formed a gang and began to exploit the forests in the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
Major Criminal Activities
- Poaching: Veerappan was responsible for the poaching of over 200 elephants, valued for their ivory.
- Sandalwood Smuggling: He illegally felled sandalwood trees and smuggled the wood, which was in high demand both in India and abroad.
- Murders and Kidnappings: Veerappan was implicated in over 120 murders, including forest officials, police officers, and civilians.
- High-Profile Kidnappings:
- Rajkumar Kidnapping (2000): Veerappan kidnapped the famous Kannada actor Rajkumar, leading to a massive public outcry and a prolonged hostage situation.
- H. Nagappa Kidnapping (2002): The former Karnataka minister was also abducted by Veerappan, but this incident ended in Nagappa’s tragic death.
Eluding Law Enforcement
Veerappan’s intimate knowledge of the dense forests, combined with his network of informants and supporters in local villages, made him exceptionally difficult to catch. He operated with a Robin Hood-like image among certain marginalized communities, gaining their loyalty by distributing a portion of his illicit earnings.
Manhunt and Capture
- Operations: Several joint operations by the Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala police forces attempted to apprehend Veerappan over the years. These operations included task forces such as the Special Task Force (STF) formed specifically to capture him.
- Encounter and Death: On October 18, 2004, after evading capture for nearly two decades, Veerappan was killed in an encounter by the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force in the village of Papparapatti, near Dharmapuri.
Legacy and Cultural Impact
- Infamy and Media Portrayal: Veerappan’s life and criminal activities have inspired numerous books, documentaries, and films.
- Controversies: Some saw him as a folk hero, while others viewed him as a ruthless criminal. His story highlighted issues like forest conservation, tribal rights, and law enforcement challenges in remote areas.
Veerappan remains a symbol of both fear and intrigue in Indian history. His life represents the complex intersection of crime, survival, and the socio-economic disparities in rural India. Despite his criminal legacy, his story continues to captivate the public imagination, reflecting deeper social and environmental issues in the region.
