By Hemant SharmaFor a long time now, there have been many dacoits in India, and it is not a new thing because that’s precisely what was going on in the rest of the world too. Though, right here in India, the area which we know as Chambal Valley, has been home to so many notorious dacoits (Daku) which we now know today. Sure, there have been dozens and dozens of dacoits right here in India, but there have been some who particularly become super famous all over India because of their actions and their unique way of doing dacoity. And if you are feeling intrigued about that at the moment then just keep on reading because today, we’re about to share a list of the top 10 most notorious dacoits of India. So, here we go then.
1. Phoolan Devi
Now, this is one dacoit that you may have heard of so many times already, and yes, Phoolan Devi had a really interesting story that makes for an interesting movie. Like, she was born into a poor family and had a tough childhood, and then, later on, she faced a lot of discrimination and cruelty. Things took a turn for the worse when she was abused. Like, instead of staying silent, she decided to fight back. She booked her spot in a gang and became one of the most feared dacoits in India. For example, in 1981, she was said to have killed 22 men in Behmai to take revenge for what they did to her. In 1983, she surrendered and spent more than ten years in jail.
2. Maan Singh
And then, well, Maan Singh was one of those dacoits you hear in tales, not like a villain though, but more like a Robin Hood hero of some sort. Just so you know though, he partnered up with the well-known Sultana Daku and had a crazy record of 1100+ robberies and 185 murders. You know, like, but many poor people still considered him like a hero despite being a criminal. They saw him as Robin Hood who stole from the rich and gave to the needy. The police were constantly on his tail, despite his popularity with the public.
3. Paan Singh Tomar
If you remember watching the Irrfan Khan movie about him, Paan Singh Tomar wasn’t always a criminal, you know? Like, in fact, he was an athlete! For those who don’t know yet, yes, he was in the Indian Army and proficient in national-level steeplechase running. But a family land dispute ruined everything for him. Later down the line though, the evilness and injustice in the system disturbed him so much that he carried a gun, and then, we all know it, he became a feared dacoit in the Chambal region.
4. Veerappan
And then, in a way, Veerappan was not a dacoit but a complete king of the jungle. Like, if you haven’t heard of him yet, just know that he ran a huge crime empire in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. His biggest crimes? Smuggling sandalwood and ivory. He was responsible for killing more than 2000 elephants and hundreds of humans, including cops. He even kidnapped politicians for ransom! He had evaded capture from the police for years! Though, back in 2004, a special police team successfully arrested and killed him.
5. Jagga Jatt
Not a lot of people know that but yes, Jagga Jatt was a legend from British India. How and why? Well, back in those days, he killed a policeman in self-defence, and sure enough, his life changed. From then on, he was an outlaw. However, he wasn’t like the others, but how? It is true that he only stole from corrupt landlords and the British. His fearless attitude made him a folk hero in Punjab. But, the British cops finally caught him in 1932, that was the end of his story.
6. Mohar Singh Gurjar
For over 15 years, Mohar Singh ruled the region of Chambal with his gang. He was involved in 315 violent crimes including 85 murders. But eventually, even he got tired of the violent life. In 1972, he surprised all and surrendered to the police with his gang.
7. Malangi
If we have to talk about kinda a rebellious figure in this post that was super famous, then it would be the famous dacoit named Malangi. How and why? Well, first of all, Malangi mostly stole from corrupt landlords and British officials and gave the money to the poor, and sure enough, this made him a hero to many. Through his prominent heists and adeptness at evading the cops all the time, no matter how close they were to him, he became a legend in India’s dacoit history.
8. Chabbiram Yadav
Chabbiram Yadav was one dacoit that people used to fear a lot from in states like Uttar Pradesh, MP, and Rajasthan. Why? Oh, he and his gang robbed and kidnapped many times. Though, just like some other names on this very list, yes, for some people, he was like a protector. But in 1983, his crimes caught up to him when the police finally caught up with him when they killed him in an encounter.
9. Gabbar Singh Gurjar
The name “Gabbar Singh” of the movie Sholay is popular but do you know it is based on a real person? Yes, the real Gabbar Singh was a dacoit who created kinda chaos in Chambal Valley with fear. Like, back in those days, he used to cut off the noses of people who didn’t pay him protection money. Sure enough, he terrorized and ruled for many years until the police got him in 1959.
10. Dadaua
Alright, last on the list, No one ever did better survival in the dacoit world than Dadaua. For example, he ruled the Chambal Valley for nearly 30 years! During all these years, he committed over 150 murders and 200 robberies. His gang was highly organized and feared by everyone, no two ways about that. Even though the police tried several operations but he continued dodging the cops for decades. But in 2007, his luck ran out. The special task of Uttar Pradesh tracked him down and ended his criminal career.
Conclusion
There you have it. In India’s modern history, let’s see in about the last 100 years, these have been the most notorious dacoits of India, no two ways about that. These dacoits have been so famous that years after they used to rule that particular area, people still fear their name and they still remember them.