Name: Kuse Munisamy Veerappa Gounder alias Veerappan alias Mulukkan

Age: At least 51 years old, some say 58

Height: Five feet six inches

Background: Eldest son of poor parents in Gopinatham, Munisami Gounder and Punithayamma

Language: Tamil

Evolution: Veerappan is believed to have shot down a tusker first when he was only 10. He took to the jungle when he was 18. The story goes that Salvai Gounder, who was ruling the forests, was impressed by his skills and fearlessness and took him under his wings. The senior Gounder turned to sandalwood smuggling after ivory export was banned.

Gounder left the business to Veerappan and Thangavelu. When Thangavelu formed his own gang, Veerappan invited him over for dinner and shot him dead.

Track record: Poached 2,000 tuskers, killed 120 people and smuggled 10,000 tonnes of sandalwood

Chief associates: Anburaj, Sethukuli Govindan, Meke Rangaswamy and Madesh

Setbacks: Was arrested twice in 1972 and 1986 but escaped allegedly with the help of his 'high connections'.

Family: Of his two brothers, Madhayyan and Arjunan, the former is in jail while Arjunan, who was Veerappan's right hand man, died in custody. Wife Muthulaxmi and elder daughter Vidyarani are in Mettur. During an operation, he strangulated his second daughter, fearing that her cries may attract police attention.

Food: Veerappan's gang survives on rice, rasam, meat and tea. Veerappan has enough stocks of provisions and essential commodities in the jungle to survive for many years. Provisions include masala .