Veerappan’s Elder Brother Dies of Cardiac Failure

CHENNAI, (IANS) – Forest brigand Veerappan’s elder brother Madhaiyan died of a cardiac arrest in Salem Government Hospital on May 25.

Madhaiyan was a life convict in a case related to the murder of a forest officer in 1987 and was in Salem central prison for the past 34 years. He suffered a heart attack and was admitted to Salem General Hospital on May 1.

Veerappan was killed in 2004, by a Special Task Force of the Tamil Nadu Police. His accomplices Sethukuli Govindan, Chandre Gowdar, and Sethumani were also killed.

Veerappan was a notorious brigand involved in the killing of more than 150 people including forest officers, revenue officers, and police officers, and had ambushed and killed 22 policemen in a single mine explosion. He had poached and killed around 2000 elephants, extracted ivory, and sold it.

He was also involved in sandalwood smuggling and police had then recorded that Veerappan had smuggled and sold sandalwood worth around Rs 143 crore.