On October 19, India's costliest manhunt came to an end.

Koose Muniswamy Veerappan, along with three of his associates Sethukkuli Govindan, Chandra Gowda and Sethu Mani, was killed in an encounter with a special task force team headed by Additional Director-General of Police K Vijaykumar, in Papparapatti village in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu.

But not before he had terrorised the region for over three decades, earning for himself a prize of Rs 3 crore on his head.

In this period Veerappan had killed over 100 people, including many forest officials. He had also kidnapped Kannada matinee idol Raajakumar and former Karnataka minister H Nagappa, who later died in his custody.

The STF later said its success was the outcome of a well-laid plan. Its men had infiltrated the brigand's gang, enabling it to keep tabs on his movement. They finally managed to lure him out of his fortress -- the forest. That proved to be his nemesis. And he died the way he lived: violently.

Also read: End of the road