R.I.P. "Everybody knows how Veerapan became a big problem: the socio-economic factors played a major role in his rise. Of the crimes attributed to Veerapan, he added, why do you accuse Veerapan alone? The guilty are living happily in our society. Why do you pardon them? What we want first is action against all those who have committed atrocities on the poor villagers. Detailing the evidence of 90 people in jail without access to trial, 60 women subjected to sexual assault, and more than 300 men handicapped by police torture, he called for action against those responsible in the government and concluded, action against Veerapan can be taken after that. ...he is seen as a do-gooder. He helps the locals by paying for their marriages, renovating temples, helping poor people, getting a poor widow a square meal, and so on. In the same breath, he continued that, everybody is afraid of him. Since the villagers see themselves as aided by Veerapan's actions, it seems unlikely that the everybody to which the state police chief refers includes them. More likely he means the wealthier interests and their governmental comrades who send the police to enforce those interests. Indeed, Veerapan has supposedly killed a number of police and other government officials in his pursuit of justice. In addition to his political motives on behalf of the poor in his area, Veerapan may be motivated by personal experience. His brother and sister both died in police custody." [Excerpt from POOR Magazine]