Veerappan

Lore & Background

Veerappan began his criminal career assisting his uncle Sevi Gounder, a poacher and sandalwood smuggler. He later broke away and over 25 years, he and his gang poached approximately 500 elephants. He was first arrested in 1972. After committing his first murder at age 17, he killed those who resisted his activities, including police officers, forest officials, and informants.

In 1987, he kidnapped and murdered a forest officer, bringing his activities to government attention. He killed a senior IFS officer in 1991 and ambushed a police party including a senior IPS officer in 1992. The Palar blast on 9 April 1993, in which landmines killed 22 members of a police and forestry team, was his single largest mass killing.

Reader's Guide

Veerappan's significance lies in his long-running evasion of law enforcement across state borders, exploiting jurisdictional problems. The battle to capture him cost the governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over ₹100 crore. His kidnapping of Kannada cinema actor Rajkumar in 2000 sparked public outcry and violence in Bangalore; Rajkumar was held 108 days and released after a reported ₹20 crore payment. The kidnapping of former minister H. Nagappa in 2002 ended with Nagappa found dead.

Veerappan was killed on 18 October 2004 in Operation Cocoon, lured into an ambulance and shot in a gunfight. His death was celebrated by villagers with firecrackers, though human rights activists claimed he was murdered in custody after torture. His legacy includes being called a 'youth icon' by the Pattali Makkal Katchi party in 2013, condemned by the then Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Did You Know?

• Veerappan was married to Muthulakshmi in 1990, who reportedly married him because of his 'notoriety and moustache'.
• Veerappan was buried at Moolakkadu near Mettur in Tamil Nadu after objections from relatives to cremation.