The man who spearheaded the Tamil Nadu Special Task Force (STF) that planned and executed bandit Veerappan's killing during Operation Cocoon has come out with an account of the life and times of the dreaded outlaw.
"Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand" by K Vijay Kumar describes in detail the ruthless killings and high-profile kidnappings masterminded by Veerappan, including the 108-day ordeal involving Kannada superstar Rajkumar.
"Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand", published by Rupa, relives the various incidents that shaped Veerappan's life - from his birth in Gopinatham in 1952 to his death in 2004 in the shootout in Padi.
It traces his dramatic rise from a poacher and sandalwood smuggler to a brutal fugitive who held three states to ransom for two decades.