Tuesday, October 18 2005 15:10 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Coimbatore: Exactly a year after his dramatic killing by Tamil Nadu police, forest brigand Veerappan seems to live on as the 'messiah' of poor residents of villages on the fringe of dense jungles of Erode and Salem.

Veerappan, who was a terror for nearly three decades in the forests of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and parts of Kerala with his poaching, killing and abductions, was killed, along with his two close aides in a dramatic encounter with Tamil Nadu Special Task Force near Dharmapuri on this day last year.

Though the saga of the most wanted outlaw was consigned to history books and police files, his 'Robin Hood' image still lives in some villagers who were well looked after by Veerappan during his tenure as an 'uncrowned king' of the region.

A steady flow of visitors and villagers is seen at the grave of Veerappan at Moolakkadu, and they take sand from there, considering it as auspicious, reminding the brigand's popularity, police sources said.

Some people even inscribe 'Veera Man' (Great land) on the rocks and concrete slabs around the grave, they said.

The support and the loyalty of the villagers to the outlaw was evident from the fact that no one had even or ever assisted or given any clue on the hideouts or whereabouts of Veerappan to STF about their 'saviour,' for 30 years.

The impact of alleged atrocities by police as a fallout to their non-cooperation in the search for Veerappan, runs many villagers who still fear the sight of the police or forest officials, a human rights activist, who spearheaded the cause of villagers, says.

Though government tried to assuage hurt feelings of villagers by carrying out development work like building roads, providing basic amenities and also opening up a self-financing institution, punishment to the 'guilty' STF men and adequate compensation and rehabilitation could only make them happy to some extent, the activist says.

The activist, on condition of anonymity, says majority of the villagers would support Veerappan's wife Muthulakshmi in her venture to set perpetuate the memories of her husband and support for next assembly elections from any of the nearby constituencies.

Some of the villagers feel that people in the nearby areas may support his wife, who has two daughters, for any 'good cause', since Veerappan commands respect even after his death.

With the vaccum created by Veerappan in protecting the villagers, many youth from surrounding villages have started migrating to work in textile and garment units in Tirupur and Karur belts, the activist says.

Though a Commission (Sadasivam) appointed by National Human Rights Commission, had conducted hearings on the alleged STF excesses and submitted the report in December 2003, it has not yet been made public or compensation paid to the affected.

Even though, many of the villagers never saw Veerappan, they, with 'atrocities, including alleged rape and torture by STF, still fresh in mind,' admire the brigand.