Admirers flock to Indian brigand's grave

By Habib Beary BBC correspondent in Bangalore

Two weeks after he was killed in an ambush by Indian police, the legend of the forest bandit Veerappan is attracting new fans.

Raja is proud of his Veerappan-like moustache

People who would not have dreamt of meeting the feared fugitive when he was alive now flock to his flower-bedecked grave.

Raja is one of them.

Sporting a handlebar moustache similar to his slain idol's, Raja and his friends circle the grave in silent homage to the wily bandit.

Veerappan was shot dead near the dense jungles that border the southern Indian states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Among Veerappan's growing band of fans, there is talk of erecting a memorial.

"He was a hero for poor Tamils," says a grieving farm hand, Pandian.

Scenes of grief are a common sight at the grave in Moolakdadu village, a few kilometres from the town where Veerappan's widow Mutthulaxmi lives.

Police used to describe Veerappan as a forest brigand wanted for more than 130 murders - but Raja is not apologetic for sporting the famous handlebar moustache that became a trademark of the outlaw.

"Why should I be afraid? I feel proud to have such a moustache. It was a symbol of the man's bravery," Raja says as another group of visitors descend from Salem, a commercial town 100 km (62 miles) away.

Sympathy wave

There is a lot of sympathy for Veerappan, particularly from his low-caste Hindu community.

VEERAPPAN Profile: India's ruthless bandit Widow speaks out Hero to poor Death in pictures

Some of the visitors light up incense sticks after placing flowers.

Women have been coming in droves, accompanied by family members.

"We felt sad when we heard of his death. Veerappan never troubled poor people. In fact, he has helped them," says Pushpavati, accompanied by her husband and younger sister.

Veerappan was a good man done in by the police - this is the common refrain heard at Veerappan's grave.

But not all those visiting Veerappan's grave are admirers.

"I came here out of curiosity but what I am seeing here is unbelievable," says Rajendran, a student.

Many people, though, do indeed come to express grief and pay their respects.

Flowers and tributes are placed on Veerappan's memorial

"I have seen in my own eyes many people shedding a tear. Some of them also carry home some mud picked up from the grave," says an old lady.

Nearly a thousand people visited the grave on Sunday.

"It will not be a surprise if a Samadhi [memorial] comes up. People have been coming in large numbers," says policeman on duty to prevent any trouble.

Veerappan's widow, Mutthulaxmi, is seen by locals as a possible caretaker of his legacy.

"Police may say bad things of him but he enjoyed people's support," says Mutthulaxmi.

Tamil cause

Were it not for Veerappan, "there would have been attacks on Tamils living in Karnataka," says Mutthukumar, an avowed fan of the dead bandit.

Veerappan, who kidnapped actor Rajkumar from Karnataka, is seen as a champion of Tamils.

One of the many demands he made for freeing Rajkumar was a call for compensation for Tamils affected by the riots sparked off in 1991 by a dispute over the sharing of the river Cauvery's waters between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Veerappan had also sought to erect a statue of Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar in Bangalore, Karnataka's capital which has a large Tamil population.

Tamil leader Kollathur Mani, who had access to Veerappan, says there is an upsurge of sympathy after his death.

Special police patrol the forest after Veerappan's death

Veerappan had a sincere concern for the poor, says Mani, who played a key role in securing Rajkumar's release.

He does not justify Veerappan's killings of police officials but says the brigand was livid at the alleged atrocities committed by the police against villagers during the hunt for him.

More than 87 people were killed in fake encounters and dozens of women raped, according to a petition before a commission set up to look into complaints of police abuse.

Mani says Veerappan's larger-than-life image may be enhanced if the authorities do not immediately take corrective measures to improve the socio-economic conditions of the tribal people and villagers living in the forest region.

If people do not get justice, there is a possibility more Veerappans will emerge, he warns.