Streaming big Netflix’s much-awaited documentary collection The Hunt for Veerappan is all set for launch on August 4. The discharge of the teaser has been instrumental in making a wave of commotion and piquing the curiosity of the viewers.
Directed by Selvamani Selvaraj and produced by Apoorva Bakshi, the documentary takes its viewers to the previous to introduce them to one in every of India’s most infamous criminals— Veerappan. Often called “The Robinhood of India”, Veerappan rose to prominence by holding two states—Tamil Nadu and Karnataka— at ransom.
The docu-series delves into the actions perpetrated by Veerappan and the parallel manhunt by the police to seize him. Coupled with a hair-raising tune and quite a few voice overs, we study that Veerappan was a wild animal in human type. The teaser is an assurance for director Selvaraj’s assertion that the documentary reveals the untold tales and unexplored sides of Veerappan’s life.
Who’s Veerappan?
Veerappan was a poacher, smuggler and bandit who carried out his actions within the forests of south India. He spent his childhood aiding his uncle Saalvai Gounder in poaching and smuggling. On the age of 18, he joined a gaggle of poachers who launched him to the world of heinous crime. Varied stories affirm that Veerappan has killed greater than 120 individuals, poached over 2,000 elephants and smuggled sandalwood and ivory value thousands and thousands of {dollars}.
Veerappan proved to be a person who lived by his personal morals. Police officers, forest officers and their supporters fell in his radar and had been continually attacked by him. In line with a report by The Instances of India, a forest officer from Sathyamangalam was kidnapped and lynched by Veerappan in 1987. The homicide of senior IFS officer Pandillapalli Srinivas in 1991 drew additional consideration to him.
In 2000, he once more got here to the limelight for abducting Kannada famous person Rajkumar. Rajkumar was held hostage for 108 days and launched after a number of rounds of negotiations with the Karnataka authorities. Equally, for a number of years within the Nineties, Veerappan kidnapped numerous police officers and different personalities demanding ransom cash in return for his or her protected launch. However, he was thought of a ‘saviour’ by the locals and tribals as a result of contributions and assist he offered them with. He was taken into custody within the late Nineteen Eighties however escaped quickly; starting the longest manhunt in Indian historical past.
The manhunt for Veerappan
The pan-Indian degree of concern evoked by Veerappan finds means into the teaser as we hear former Union house minister L.Okay. Advani mentioning that the manhunt for Veerappan is a matter of concern for the entire nation. This concern and incapability to catch him led to the creation of Operation Cocoon—one in every of India’s costliest operations. The Karnataka police additionally joined the huge search operation launched by the Particular Job Drive (STF) of Tamil Nadu within the early Nineties.
The operation concerned infiltration by the police officers into the enemy camp with the assistance of native tribals. Veerappan’s data in regards to the terrain of the forest offered him an edge over the police and the staff later deliberate to carry him out of the forest. His huge info community of locals got here to his rescue to evade police seize many occasions.
By 2004, Veerappan’s military had dwindled down from a 100 to 4 members attributable to ageing and assaults from police. Parallel to this, the police obtained info that Veerappan was planning to get medical therapy for his eye in South Arcot. The police took benefit of the state of affairs to seize him. On October 18, 2004, Veerappan was escorted to a police van which was disguised as an ambulance.
Police stories say that Veerappan and his gang had been first warned after which requested to give up. They immediately took to attacking the STF personnel. The latter retaliated and opened fireplace, killing Veerappan on the spot. In line with a Frontline report, postmortem stories confirmed that his demise was attributable to the 2 puncture wounds he obtained in his head in the course of the confrontation.
The identify Veerappan nonetheless evokes concern and admiration in lots of. The lifetime of Veerappan and the operation have been retold via completely different media. In 2007, a Tamil collection named Sandhanakaadu, specializing in Veerappan’s life was launched. In 2016, a Hindi characteristic movie titled Veerappan was directed by Ram Gopal Varma. Retired IPS officer Vijay Kumar who headed Operation Cocoon has printed a guide titled Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand. The guide supplies first-hand expertise into the operation.
The upcoming Netflix collection The Hunt for Veerappan has incited an excessive amount of pleasure. The collection is initially made in English and Tamil. It is going to even be out there in Hindi, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.
