Veerappan aide Simon dies of multiple ailments

A 55-year old Simon Anthoniyappa, an aide of slain forest brigand Veerappan and a death row convict, died from multiple ailments at prison ward in Victoria Hospital on Sunday morning.

Anthoniyappa, a native of Kollegal, was suffering from kidney problem and other multiple ailments. He had been admitted to the hospital a few days ago after his health problem aggravated.

Anthoniyappa was awarded death sentence for his role a bomb blast in Palar forest area between Chamarajanagar and Tamil Nadu in 1993 on the behest of Veerappan and in which 22 police personnel belonging to Special Task Force were killed.

Initially, Anthoniyappa was lodged in Parappana Agrahara Central Prison. On January 5, 2015, he was shifted to Mysore Prison. He developed a kidney problem and to help his treatment, he was shifted to the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison on April 4 and later to the Victoria Hospital.

Anthoniyappa and three other had filed an application before the Supreme Court and President of India seeking an exemption from the corporal punishment.