India's deadliest bandit, Veerappan, began his murderous spree in 1986 when he killed five policemen and a forestry official after being arrested ffor poaching.

In 1993, he killed 21 policemen with a landmine. A feared ivory and sandalwood poacher, Veerappan and his gang are believed to be responsible for at least 100 deaths. On July 12, 1997, he abducted nine forest rangers from the jungles of southern India. He released one hostage, but his demand for a $1.5 million ransom for the other eight was rejected by the Tamil Nadu state government. In previous kidnappings, when ransoms were demanded and not paid, the hostages ended as mutilated corpses dumped on roads.

A negotiator said the bandit almost killed two hostages on July 27, when the state governments of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka turned down his plea for a general amnesty. Described by officials as a menace to "humans, wildlife and the environment", Veerappan -- not known for modesty -- asked for a film to be made about his life.