Dacoit Veerappan Story in Hindi: Dacoit Veerappan is no longer in this world. Police eliminated him in an operation, but his terror remains in the hearts of the people of South India.

How Dacoit Veerappan Survived for 20 Years: The dense forests of South India, the silent night air, and the sound of gunfire echoing in the darkness… this was Veerappan's empire. His real name was Kooj Muniswami Veerappan, but people called him the "King of Dacoits." His hideouts were the forests of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. His appearance was extremely intimidating: a thick moustache, eyes burning like embers, and a gun always in his hand.

The deception lasted for 20 years

Veerappan wasn't just a robber, he was also a major figure in sandalwood and ivory smuggling. It's said he killed over 200 people, including police officers. Villagers trembled at the mere mention of his name. But the true thrill of the story was his evasion. The police, army, and special task force tried to capture him for 20 years, but Veerappan always vanished into the darkness of the forest.

It's said that at night, as villagers slept, there would suddenly be a knock on someone's door... and Veerappan would stand before them. His eyes held a mysterious gleam, and people would be ready to give anything out of fear. Finally, in 2004, the police killed him in a special operation. But even today, his stories are told in villages across South India... like ghost stories.

Elephant hunting at the age of 15

Veerappan was born on January 18, 1952, in Gopalaswamipetta village, Tamil Nadu, into a poor family. From childhood, he was drawn to the forest. He herded goats in the forest with his father, and it was there that he learned to shoot and hunt. It is said that he killed his first rabbit at the age of ten, and by the age of 15, he had even shot an elephant.

Veerappan's maternal uncle was a sandalwood smuggler. He recruited him into this business. Gradually, Veerappan memorized every forest trail. Escaping the police became his game. Soon, he formed a small gang and began committing robberies in the surrounding area.

People would get scared on hearing the whistle.

By the late 1970s, his reputation had spread throughout the jungle. He would attack police outposts, take villagers hostage, and extort money from government officials. Legend has it that at night, a strange whistling sound emanated from the jungle, signaling Veerappan's presence.

Veerappan's primary business was sandalwood and ivory smuggling. It is said that during his lifetime, he cut down hundreds of rare sandalwood trees and smuggled approximately 10,000 tons of sandalwood. He also killed over 700 elephants and sold their ivory. This amassed a fortune worth crores and equipped his gang with modern weapons.

200 people were brutally murdered

Police in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala tried to capture him several times, but he escaped every time. Perhaps no one possessed such in-depth knowledge of the forest as he did. He could detect police footsteps before they arrived. On several occasions, he even surrounded and killed police officers.

Veerappan's fear was such that his gang killed over 200 people, including police officers, forest department employees, and ordinary people. His name would scare children: "Go to sleep, or Veerappan will come."

How did Veerappan survive for so many years?

It is said that Veerappan was not just a bandit, but also had connections with several political parties. Many leaders used to help him eliminate their enemies or secure votes for them in elections. This is why he survived for so many years.

He launched a major attack in 1993, killing 22 policemen and forest officers. This incident was so horrific that it shook the entire nation. Crores of rupees were subsequently spent on his search.

Kannada star Rajkumar kidnapped

Veerappan was also a master of kidnapping. He abducted numerous celebrities. In 2000, he held Kannada film superstar Rajkumar hostage. For 108 days, the nation was held in suspense. Later, the government had to agree to several conditions, upon which Veerappan released him.

Veerappan's gang consisted of over 100 men. Most of them were tribal people from the forest, who joined him out of fear and greed. Legend has it that his gang would silently walk for kilometers at night and disappear before dawn.

And the robber got trapped in the 'cocoon' net.

Veerappan possessed sophisticated weapons. He would hide in dense forests and ambush the police. In each police operation, dozens of soldiers would be killed, only to be caught again. For 20 years, the police could not even catch his shadow.

Finally, in 2004, the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force devised a plan called "Operation Cocoon." The police enlisted Veerappan's trusted associates and assured him that doctors would come to treat him.

Police killed him like this after taking him out of the forest

On the night of October 18, 2004, Veerappan was traveling in a jeep with his gang. Suddenly, on a forest road, the Special Task Force stopped him. Before Veerappan could react, a hail of bullets erupted. Within minutes, Veerappan and his companions were killed. With his death, the story of India's most prominent sandalwood smuggler and bandit ended. But his fear lives on in the hearts of the people.

The bandit Veerappan may no longer be alive, but the terror of his name still lingers deep within the villages of South India. They feel as if Veerappan is somewhere nearby. Whenever they look at the forest, they say, "This is the same forest where Veerappan once ruled." His tales are still told like ghost stories.