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The End of a Saga
Today, the newspapers screamed: Veerappan Shot Dead.
This brings to an end - a happy end for many, and a sad one for some - two decades of relentless
pursuit of one man, by a well armed and trained Special Task Force. I am sure each member of the
STF would be the happiest person today, for they can now go back to their homes, and live a more
normal life. I say this, for I've seen their life in the forests, many a time.
With Veerappan's end goes many mysteries unsolved, and many stories untold, buried deep in the
forests between Karnataka and Tamilnadu, for ever. This date will remain in history for a long time,
for it marks the end of one man, who set at nought the might of the government of three states.
Nevertheless, I cannot withhold my deep admiration for him. My feelings are mixed. He was a man of the jungles. He knew
the wildlife there, and lived with them. Living off the jungles requires a high level of
jungle senstiveness, and a deep understanding of the wildlife that inhabits those forests.
Essentially, jungle survival isn't an easy task for civilized human beings. And he has proved that
he is a master at it.
By this I do not justify his deeds; I do not know. We do not know if he had a fair chance, and we
live far away from the ground reality. He is branded a criminal, and society demands protection from
criminals. So this end.
So, a chapter closes in the book of history; one of the longest manhunts comes to an end.
Nevertheless, May His Soul Rest In Peace.
All things have to end. Your Life. My Life. Everything.
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