All of them were successful in renting accommodation in the suburbs of Lucknow and were also in the process of coordinating with local criminals to start their activities in the city.

There are several instances suggesting that many of the bandits from the ravines either tried to form a base in the city or enter the mainstream.

Shiv Kumar Patel alias Dadua, killed by the Special Task Force (STF) of the Uttar Pradesh Police July 22, 2007, was an infamous dacoit operating in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh in recent years, carrying a cash reward of Rs.500,000 on his head.

Dadua, 56, was active for over 32 years and was wanted in nearly 100 cases, including for murder and abduction. 'He was the most wanted Indian bandit after the slain Veerappan,' says Additional Director General of Police Brijlal.

One of the most famous bandits who met a bloody end despite entering mainstream politics was Phoolan Devi. Phoolan belonged to the Mallah (boatman) community and was abducted by the Baboo gang in 1979 when she was only 16 years old.

She surrendered before police in February 1983 and served nearly 11 years in jail during the hearing of her case. Her political career began in 1993 when she was elected an MP on the Samajwadi Party ticket. Phoolan was shot dead outside her official residence in New Delhi.

Another famous bandit who ruled the ravines was Ambika Patel alias Thokiya.

The STF shot dead Thokiya in a fierce gun battle Aug 4, 2008, in Silkhori village of Chitrakoot district. He carried a cash reward of Rs.600,000 on his head.

'I remember when we started operations against Thokiya, he went underground and later, after his encounter, we came to know that he went to Mumbai and stayed there for over a month. There also he started criminal activities with local goons but soon returned to take charge of the Dadua gang,' said a senior police officer.

(Rajat Rai can be contacted at rajat.r@ians.in)