Veerappan's reign of terror finally came to an end on October 18, 2002. A team of Tamil Nadu police and Special Task Force (STF) personnel, led by Inspector K. Praveen Sood, laid a trap for him in a forest near Tirunelveli. Veerappan was killed in an encounter, and his body was later cremated in a secret ceremony.

Koose Munisamy Veerappan was a notorious Indian bandit who operated in the forests of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. He was born on January 18, 1952, in the Theni district of Tamil Nadu. Veerappan's life of crime began at a young age, and he eventually became one of the most wanted men in India.

Veerappan's crimes gained notoriety in the 1980s, and he became a legendary figure in the annals of Indian crime. He was known for his brazen daylight robberies, often targeting buses, trucks, and trains. He would loot goods, cash, and jewelry, and sometimes kidnap people for ransom.