Koose Muniswamy Veerappan (c. January 18, 1952–October 18, 2004) was a notorious Tamil bandit and self-styled 'Robin Hood' of India. He resided and carried out his activities in the Biligirirangan and Malai Mahadeswara Hills and Sathyamangalam and Gundiyal forests, covering 6,000 km² in the states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu. He challenged three state governments and the paramilitary force of Indian Border security. He once had a mini army with hundreds of armed members in his gang. He was wanted for killing about 124 people^[1], including senior police and forest officials, poaching about 200 elephants, and smuggling ivory worth US$2,600,000 and sandalwood of about 10,000 tonnes worth US$22,000,000. He had a price of Rs. 50 million (Rs. 5 crore or US$1.1 million) on his head^[2], but evaded arrest for 20 years until he was killed by police in 2004^[3]. January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Languages Tamil Religions Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Jainism Related ethnic groups Dravidian people Brahui people Kannadigas Malayalis Tamils Telugus Tuluvas Gonds The Tamil people are an ethnic group from the Indian subcontinent with a recorded history going back more than two millennia. ... Butch Cassidy, a famous outlaw An outlaw, a person living the lifestyle of outlawry, is most familiar to contemporary readers as a stock character in Western movies. ... Robin Hood memorial statue in Nottingham. ... The Biligiri Hills (White mountains in the Kannada language), also known as the Biligiri Rangas Hills, are a range of hills in southern India. ... Malai Mahadeshwara Hills is a temple town situated in the eastern part of Kollegal taluk, Chamarajanagar district. ... Sathyamangalam or Satyamangalam is a town in Tamil Nadu state of southern India. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ... , Kerala ( ; Malayalam: കേരളം; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of southwestern India. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... A paramilitary organization is a group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion. ... The Border Security Force (BSF), established on December 1, 1965, is responsible for guarding Indias land borders during peacetime and preventing trans-border crimes. ... Genera and Species Loxodonta Loxodonta cyclotis Loxodonta africana Elephas Elephas maximus Elephas antiquus † Elephas beyeri † Elephas celebensis † Elephas cypriotes † Elephas ekorensis † Elephas falconeri † Elephas iolensis † Elephas planifrons † Elephas platycephalus † Elephas recki † Stegodon † Mammuthus † Elephantidae (the elephants) is a family of pachyderm, and the only remaining family in the order Proboscidea... A skirmish with smugglers from Finland at the Russian border, 1853, by Vasily Hudiakov. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The branches of a young sandalwood tree found in Hawaii Sandalwood is the fragrant wood of trees in the genus Santalum. ... ISO 4217 Code INR User(s) India Inflation 5. ... A crore is a unit in the Indian numbering system, still widely used in Bangladesh, India, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Early years

Veerappan leading his men around Namadalli forests

Koose Muniswamy Veerappa Goundan alias Veerappan was born at 08:17 hrs (IST) on January 18, 1952 in Gopinatham village in Tamilnadu to a family of cattle-grazers. He was commonly known as "Molakai" in his childhood days by the locals. At age eighteen he joined a gang of poachers. Over the years he eliminated members of a rival gang and gained control of the entire forest belt. He made money smuggling sandalwood trees and killing tuskers for ivory.^[4] Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The word Gounder is mainly used as a caste name by the Kongu Vellalars, a Kshatriya clan in Tamil Nadu, who are also called the Vellala Gounders. ... January 18 is the 18th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1952 (MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... For other uses, see Poaching (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Santalum album L. Santalum album, a terrestrial plant species of the Santalaceae family, is commonly known as a source of sandalwood. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

His gang of forty members indulged in killing and kidnapping. Most of his victims were police and forest officials and informers. He felt the police were responsible for the suicides of his sister Mari and brother Arjunan. He was also known for his kidnapping of prominent people to make demands, starting with a forest official in 1987. He trapped and brutally killed a senior forest officer Mr. P. Srinivas IFS on November 10, 1991 in Namadalli forests of Kollegal taluk in Chamarajanagr district. He also killed Mr. Harikrishna IPS, senior Police officer, along with others on August 14, 1992 near Meenyam of Kollegal taluk by ambushing the police party going for a raid. 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 314th day of the year (315th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year (227th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ...

He married Muthulakshmi, a shepherdess, in 1991. He had three daughters, Yuvarani, Prabha and another, whom he allegedly strangled to death. Veerappan also worked in Central Excise canteen. Shepherd in Făgăraş Mountains, Romania. ... Year 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the 1991 Gregorian calendar). ...

Robin Hood image

Veerappan had a Robin Hood like image among the villagers adjoining his native village Gopinatham^[5]. Veerapan was revered by many as a man who can avenge injustice, rape and cruelty to innocent people by police and corrupt authorities. Sympathetic villagers are said to have acted as cover to his activities and informed him of police activities. They also provided food and clothing to the gang. However, it has been suggested that the villagers helped him out of fear of reprisal, and that Veerappan helped the villagers with money only to protect himself from being captured. He was very ruthless to villagers who provided the police with information. Robin Hood memorial statue in Nottingham. ... Justice is a concept involving the fair and moral treatment of all persons, especially in law. ... Look up cruelty in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Veerappan on India Today Cover of November 1, 2004^[6]

He was arrested in 1986, but escaped. According to wildlife photographer Krupakar, who was once kidnapped by the bandit, he paid a bribe of Rs. 1 lakh (Rs. 100,000, about US$2,000) to a policeman to help him escape. Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... India Today is one of the Indias best-selling and most widely circulated weekly magazines, and is run by Aroon Purie. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... A lakh (Hindi: लाख, Urdu: Ù„Ú©Ú¾, Bengali: , Tamil : இலட்சம்) is a unit in the Indian numbering system, widely used both in official and other contexts in Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan. ...

Many have said that Veerappan's mimicry of birds and deer helped him evade capture. He was a surprisingly refined man, with a strong penchant for Carnatic music. He was said to be religious and prayed every day. He visited Bannari Amman temple regularly. He was fond of his handlebar moustache and tended to it as a daily routine. He regularly made his communications to the government through emissary R.R. Gopal, requesting amnesty. He desired to start an orphanage and to join politics, inspired by bandit-turned-Member of Parliament Phoolan Devi. A drone fly exhibits Batesian mimicry by resembling a honey bee In ecology, mimicry describes a situation where one organism, the mimic, has evolved to become in some way similar to another organism, the model, which is usually another species, or, less commonly, themselves (automimicry). ... Carnatic music, also known as is one of the two styles of Indian classical music, the other being Hindustani music. ... Example of a handlebar moustache A handlebar moustache is a moustache with particularly lengthy, often graspable, extremities. ... An orphanage (historically an orphans asylum before the latter word took on its modern insane asylum connotation) is an institution dedicated to caring for orphans (children who have lost their parents) and abused, abandoned, and neglected children. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      Politics is defined as a group of people who are influenced to change laws and other such things to make the world a better place the process by which groups of people make decisions. ... Phoolan Devi (PhÅ«lan DevÄ«) August 10, 1963 – July 25, 2001), popularly known as The Bandit Queen, was an Indian dacoit, who later turned politician. ...

He is quoted as having watched The Godfather over one hundred times and was an ardent listener of the BBC. The Godfather is a 1972 crime film based on the novel of the same name by Mario Puzo and directed by Francis Ford Coppola, with screenplay by Puzo and Coppola. ...

Special task force

In 1990, the Karnataka government formed a Special Task Force to capture him and put an end to the menace. Soon after, the task force captured several of Veerappan's men. In February 1992, the special task force killed his lieutenant Gurunathan. A few months later, Veerappan attacked the Ramapura police station of Kollegal taluk in the Chamarajanagar district, killing several policemen and capturing arms and ammunition. In 1993, the task force arrested his wife Muthulakshmi. In July 1993, he reportedly strangled his infant daughter, fearing the child's cry would give him away to the Indian police. Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The Special Task Force (STF)(In Sinhala: ) is an elite special force unit of the Sri Lanka Police specializing in Counter-Terrorist and Counter-Insurgency operations. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ...

On July 12, 1997, he kidnapped nine forest officials at a place called Marapala in Burude forests of Kollegal taluk of Chamarajanagar district. He made demands for releasing them, including amnesty, but none were met. The hostages were released without being harmed in the last week of August the same year. This showed his resolve to not negotiate with the government. July 12 is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

On July 30, 2000 Veerappan abducted popular Kannada film actor Dr. Rajkumar from his ancestral home. This event put the Karnataka government in a political dilemma of whether or not to call in the army. The decision was reached that to do so would set a poor precedent. Rajkumar was released without harm on November 15, 2000, after 109 days in captivity. There are allegations by several people including Jayalalithaa that about 500,000,000 rupees were paid to Veerappan for releasing Rajkumar^[7]. July 30 is the 211th day of the year (212th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Kannada Film Industry deals with movies in the Kannada language and related topics. ... Dr. Rajkumar (Kannada:ಡಾ. ರಾಜ್‌ಕುಮಾರ್‌, Real Name: Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju Kannada:ಸಿಂಗನಲ್ಲೂರು ಪುಟ್ಟಸ್ವಾಮಯ್ಯ ಮುತ್ತುರಾಜು, April 24, 1929—April 12, 2006) was the most popular actor in Kannadas film industry. ... November 15 is the 319th day of the year (320th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Jayalalitha Jayalalithaa Jayaram or J.Jayalalithaa (born February 24, 1948) is the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, India (since March 2, 2002). ...

On August 25, 2002 Veerappan kidnapped H. Nagappa, a former state minister. Nagappa was found dead in the forest three months later. The reward offered by the Karnataka state government was increased to 50,000,000 rupees (US $1.1 million). August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ...

Death

On October 18, 2004, following a tip-off, Veerappan and two associates were allegedly murdered in cold blood after being arrested by Tamil Nadu State Special Task Force headed by the Additional Director-General of Police, K. Vijay Kumar,Suprintendent of Police Sentamarai Kannan and Additional Suprintendent of Police F.M.Hussain, near the village of Paparapatti in Dharmapuri district, Tamil Nadu^[8]. His third associate managed to escape. However, the next day his widow claimed that he had been arrested a few days earlier, interrogated and killed by the police (Veerappan had repeatedly threatened, if ever brought to trial, to point a finger at every policemen and politician he had bribed to ensure his three-decade long run from justice). October 18 is the 291st day of the year (292nd in leap years). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

According to media reports, post-mortem photos of Veerappan with a bullet hole above his left eye seemed to contradict with the official story that the STF, lying in ambush, stopped the ambulance Veerappan and his gang was traveling in, offered them to surrender and gunned them down when someone from inside the van opened fire. Another possibility, voiced by psychologist, Dr. P. Kodandaram, is that Veerappan and his associates may have committed collective suicide inside the van when faced with capture. Suicide (Latin sui caedere, to kill oneself) is the act of intentionally taking ones own life. ...

Veerappan was buried in the village of Moolakadu, Tamil Nadu. The police said they did not let the burial take place in his home village in Karnataka, fearing the large crowds that had gathered there. Although the police had planned for a cremation, this was objected to by the relatives of Veerappan suggesting that exhumation would be required if there was investigation into his death. Thousands of people turned out for the funeral while others were kept away from the burial ground by heavy security^[9]. Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ...

Timeline^[10][11]

• 1970
  • Joined a gang of poachers.
• 1986
  • Arrested and lodged at Boodipada forest guest house but escaped under mysterious circumstances (reportedly bribed a police officer).
• 1987
  • Kidnapped and hacked forest officer Chidambaram. Kidnapped and killed 5 members of a rival gang.
• 1989
  • Killed 3 forest personnel of Begur forest range.
• 1990
  • Killed 2 police personnel as revenge for killing of 2 members of his gang.
  • Killed another 4 police officials of Karnataka. The Karnataka government constitutes Special Task Force (STF) to catch Veerappan.
  • Shot and beheaded Karnataka deputy conservator of forests, Srinivas as revenge for Veerappan's sister Mari's suicide (the victim's head was traced 3 years later)
• 1992
  • Attacked a police station in Ramapura, killing five policemen and stealing arms and ammunition. STF killed 4 gang members in retaliation
  • Trapped STF police official Harikrishna, Shakil Ahmed and 25 constables through a false informant. Killed 6 of the party using hand grenades and bombs.
• 1993
  • Blew up a bus of 22 passengers including police and civilians, using landmine.
  • Killed 6 policemen of Karnataka special SP Gopal Hosur's party.
  • Tamil Nadu government deploys Border Security Force (BSF)
  • Joint operations of BSF and STF arrested 19 gang members and killed 6. Three policemen were killed.
  • Veerappan requested amnesty. Victim's relatives opposed any government negotiations
• 1996
  • Killed a police informer.
  • Killed another 10 police personnel.
  • Attacked police official Tamilselvan and killed a constable as revenge for the suicide of Veerappan's brother Arjunan in police custody.
• 1997
  • Apparently killed heir apparent 'Baby' Veerappan.
  • Kidnapped 9 Karnataka Forest officials from Burude forests.
  • Kidnapped and later released wildlife photographers Krupakar and Senani (October.)
• 2000
  • Kidnapped Kannada film actor Dr. Rajkumar. Released him after 109 days (ransomed).
• 2002
  • Kidnapped and allegedly killed former Karnataka minister H. Nagappa. There are other sources, including police of Karnataka who claim that the bullet in the body of the former minister was from a rifle used by the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force
• 2004
  • Killed, presumably by Tamil Nadu State Special Task Force members

1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ... Begur There may be several places with this name across the globe, please choose the relevant one below. ... Year 1990 (MCMXC) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 1990 Gregorian calendar). ... The Special Task Force (STF)(In Sinhala: ) is an elite special force unit of the Sri Lanka Police specializing in Counter-Terrorist and Counter-Insurgency operations. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... For the alcoholic beverage sold in New Orleans, see hand grenade (drink). ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... The Border Security Force (BSF), established on December 1, 1965, is responsible for guarding Indias land borders during peacetime and preventing trans-border crimes. ... Look up Amnesty in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Year 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar). ... 1997 (MCMXCVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This is a list of notable photographers in the art, documentary and fashion traditions. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Kannada Film Industry deals with movies in the Kannada language and related topics. ... Dr. Rajkumar (Kannada:ಡಾ. ರಾಜ್‌ಕುಮಾರ್‌, Real Name: Singanalluru Puttaswamayya Muthuraju Kannada:ಸಿಂಗನಲ್ಲೂರು ಪುಟ್ಟಸ್ವಾಮಯ್ಯ ಮುತ್ತುರಾಜು, April 24, 1929—April 12, 2006) was the most popular actor in Kannadas film industry. ... For album titles with the same name, see 2002 (album). ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Controversies

Death

The Week is a weekly british magazine which covers the events and stories published in the various news publications throughout the world. ... Kumudam is aTamil language weekly magazines published in Chennai, India The group also publishes other Tamil magazines including Kumudam Reporter, Kumudam Snehidi, Kumudam Bhakti, Kumudam Jothidam, Kumudam Theeranadhi. ...

Trivia

• Veerappan belonged to the Vanniar caste. Some people of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), or Working People's Party, which is based on that Vanniar caste, hoisted half-mast flag of their party on the death of Veerappan.
• When R. Gopal, editor of Nakkeeran Tamil weekly popularly known Nakeeran Gopal first interviewed Veerappan in his hideout, it gained him near celebrity status and the video tape became very popular.
• Veerappan was a sincere devotee of Kali. It is also said that he built a Kali temple.
• Because of Veerappan's death, Ram Gopal Varma's film project Lets Catch Veerappan was re-titled to Lets Kill Veerappan.

Pattali Makkal Katchi (பாட்டாளி மக்கள் கட்சி, abbreviated PMK), a Tamil political party. ... Vanniar (derived from the word vanni,a Sanskrit word, which means fire) Veera Vanniyan born from the fire, so his sons are called as Vanniar. ... R.Gopal also known as Nakkeran Gopal is a famous journalist who publishes a famous magazine called Nakkeran. ... This article is about the Hindu goddess Kali. ... This article is about the Hindu goddess Kali. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Representation in the arts

Veerappan was the inspiration behind some films and their characters.

• The character of Veeran (played by Govind Namdeo) in the Hindi film Sarfarosh (1999). The character is of a terrorist who arms the forest-dwellers with rifles.
• The character of Durga Narayan (played by Sushant Singh) in the Hindi film Jungle (2000). The character is of a forest gang leader who kidnaps a bus full of passengers, kills some of them and holds others to ransom.
• Let's Kill Veerappan (in production) by Ram Gopal Varma about a real-life story of three villagers who attempt to win the reward by providing information to the police.
• There were scores of regional films in Tamil and Kannada than had Veerappan as its antagonist like the Tamil movie Captain Prabhakaran and Kannada movie Veerappan, all of which were super hits.

Books on Veerappan Sarfarosh was a critically and commercially successful Bollywood action film, released in 1999. ... Sushant Singh Sushant Singh is an Indian actor. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

• Veerappan: India's Most Wanted Man by Sunaad Raghuram. The film Let's Kill Veerappan is based on a chapter in this book.

References

1. ^ http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/veer/rise1.html "Veerappan, the man behind 124 murders": Hindustan Times feature
2. ^ Unofficially, it is estimated that about 2,000,000,000 rupees (200,000,000 per year) was spent over ten years by the government in order to capture him.
3. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/asiapcf/10/18/india.bandit/index.html CNN: Police kill India's 'Robin Hood'
4. ^ Although he is widely believed to have killed 2,000 elephants, according to Sunaad Raghuram, Veerappan's biographer who spent four years interviewing people, Veerappan could not have killed more than 200.
5. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/3762494.stm BBC: Veerappan remains hero to poor
6. ^ http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20041101/index.shtml one needs access through subscription, last retrieved on 14.04.2007
7. ^ http://newsarchives.indiainfo.com/spotlight/rajkumar News archives of Dr. Rajkumar kidnap incident
8. ^ http://www.indiatoday.com/itoday/20041101/index.shtml
9. ^ http://news.independent.co.uk/world/asia/story.jsp?story=573885 Independent: Koose Muniswamy Veerappan: The Bandit King
10. ^ http://sify.com/news/othernews/fullstory.php?id=13592540 Sify.com Bio and Timeline
11. ^ http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/criminals/veerappan/

See also

• Outlaw
• Phoolan Devi