I just clicked onto the websites of several Indian newspapers like I do every evening to read some fantastic news - an Indian brigand and elephant poacher who had killed more than 120 people and 2000 elephants was shot dead. It has been estimated that the ivory from most of the elephants was smuggled into Japan as the man operated in areas where a number of granite concessions were operated by Japanese companies. I'm going to celebrate with a glass of wine before going to bed tonight!

http://www.hindu.com/2004/10/19/stories/2004101916450100.htm

Well, 've already had m'glass of claret for this ev'ning but I'll down another along with y'. Capital bit of news, that man, glad y'could share it. Blighter should've been grassed long ago, what?

I remember hearing about him when I was in India back in 1997. I am glad they got him, but I wish they could of taken him alive.

A dry Chianti, please. Let's hope they follow through and examine the personal finances of all those involved in awarding the granite concessions.

How can someone kill 120 people and not have the entire country's police force hunting him?

What was his main weapon? He must have had some crazy stories if Indian Elephants are anywhere near as cantankerous as the African Elephant.

"Toto, we're not in Kansas anymore."

The Indian government had spent around $30M chasing the bastard. Believe me, the entire police force was after him. Amazing what a good woodsman can do in dense forest!

Nickudu,

Late last night the government announced a probe into the man's "political connections" and now that he is dead, it is sure to be a tough probe. And since many of the people killed were policemen, I am sure that they would be very thorough indeed, as it should be.

Mickey1,

Old Sarge is absolutely right. He was a superb woodsman and he had a run over more than 3500 square miles of thick forest. He also had some very rich supporters who gave him arms and helped him get the ivory to Japan.

I'm glad they got him even if it took 30 years to do this.

Boghossian,

He has been photographed with several guns including an FAL and a 303 SMLE. There have been reports that he also had a large caliber rifle that he used to down the elephants though no one really knew what it was. Few journalists know much about guns in India.

Old Sarge,

Who was the American who was on the run for many many years in one of your big wildneress areas? He truely went "feral" and evaded the police much in the way this Indian chap has. He was caught two or three years ago if I remember correctly?

Regards,

Pete

That was Eric Rudolph. He was wanted for some bombings and it appears he was caught by luck. I believe a policeman caught him rummaging for food in the dumpster behind a store.