Real Life Bandits of India: Amidst the discussion about Akshay Khanna’s Rahman dacoit in the film ‘Dhurandhar’, know the real story of India’s 10 most notorious and dangerous dacoits. From Phoolan Devi to Veerappan, know about the dacoits of India who terrorized India for decades.
Most Notorious Dacoits in India: Akshay Khanna’s role of ‘Rahman Dacoit’ in the film Dhurandhar is gaining a lot of headlines these days on social media and among the audience. His fast-paced acting and scary style has left not only the audience but even the film’s lead star Ranveer Singh behind. There have been many characters of gangsters and dacoits on-screen, but some real-life dacoits have become so notorious that their names even today inspire both fear and thrill in legends and folklore. Know the real story of the 10 most dangerous and famous dacoits of India, whose terror spread to Chambal, Bundelkhand, Deccan and South India.
Phoolan Devi: Journey from bandit queen to MP
The story of Phoolan Devi is one of the most controversial and discussed stories in the dacoit history of India. Birth in a poor backward caste, exploitation at an early age, child marriage and continuous atrocities pushed him towards Chambal. The killing of more than 20 Thakurs in the Behmai massacre (1981) made him the most notorious dacoit of the country overnight. She surrendered in 1983, then after being released from jail, entered politics and became a Lok Sabha MP twice. In 2001, he was shot dead in Delhi. The film Bandit Queen made on her gave her international recognition.
Real Gabbar: Gabbar Singh Gurjar
Gabbar from the film Sholay may be fictional, but its source of inspiration was the real Gabbar Singh Gurjar, who is considered to be the most feared dacoit of Bhind-Chambal area of Madhya Pradesh. He was infamous for dozens of murders as well as inhuman crimes like cutting off the nose and ears of more than 100 people. Many stories of Tantra-Mantra and superstitious acts like human sacrifice were also discussed about him. His name became a symbol of terror in the ravines due to frequent police encounters and brutality.
Maan Singh: Robin Hood of Chambal
The story of Man Singh holds a different place in dacoit history. This Rajput dacoit, active on the borders of Agra, Mathura and Chambal, was accused of more than 1000 robberies and more than 150 murders. Yet in many villages his image was like that of Robin Hood, who helped the poor by robbing the rich. He died in a police encounter in the 1950s, but even today folk songs and stories are told about him.
Paan Singh Tomar: Story from athlete to rebel
The story of Paan Singh Tomar is unique, because he was earlier an Indian Army soldier and National Steeplechase Champion. After retirement, land dispute, lack of justice in police station and court and attacks on his family, all these forced him to take up arms. He descended into the ravines of Chambal and within a few years became a dangerous dacoit. Killed in police action in the 1980s. The film Paan Singh Tomar made on his life brought his story to the new generation.
Veerappan: Emperor of the forests
Veerappan, the most notorious dacoit of South India, was the biggest name in sandalwood and ivory smuggling. His hold in the dense forests bordering Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala was so strong that even the police were afraid of going to his area. He was accused of hundreds of murders, killing of police and forest officers, smuggling of thousands of tonnes of sandalwood, kidnapping of high-profile figures like actor Rajkumar. In 2004, the Special Task Force killed him in a major operation.
Mohar Singh Gurjar: A dacoit with an army of 150 rebels.
Mohar Singh was the biggest name of Chambal in the 1960-70s. More than 80 murders and more than 300 cases of robbery and kidnapping were registered against him. There was a huge reward on his head. Starting crime from a land dispute, he created the biggest gang of about 150 dacoits. In 1972, with the mediation of Jaiprakash Narayan, he surrendered along with his gang. Later he also appeared in politics and films. He died in 2020.
Malkhan Singh: Bandit King
Malkhan Singh was called the most dangerous dacoit of the ravines in the 1970-80s. He was even called the bandit emperor and the king of dacoits. His gang was accused of more than 175 murders, killing of several policemen and hundreds of robberies. In 1982 he surrendered before the Chief Minister and later remained active in politics.
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Dadua: The biggest gangster of UP-MP border
Dadua continued to rule the ravines for about 30 years. There were cases of more than 150 murders and hundreds of robberies registered against him. He had so much influence on the politics of the area that many leaders maintained relations with him. In 2007, he was killed in an encounter by the UP Special Task Force. Later his family members started coming into politics.
Nirbhay Singh Gurjar: Chambal’s last big dacoit
Nirbhay Gurjar is said to be the last big dacoit of Chambal. His gang was notorious for kidnapping, ransom and murders in the 1980s and 1990s. While talking to the media, he also tried to portray himself as a rebel and a fighter for justice. After his death in an encounter with UP Police in 2005, the traditional dacoit era of the ravines of Chambal was considered to be over.
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Sultana Dacoit: India’s first famous dacoit
In the early 20th century, the name of Sultana Daku was synonymous with fear in the Ganga-Yamuna Doab. It is said about him that he used to target the British government and tyrannical landlords. In many folktales he appears as a Robin Hood-like hero, but in British records he was a dangerous criminal. Finally the British arrested him and hanged him.