Phoolan Devi (Hindi: फूलन देवी, Phūlan Dēvi) (10 August 1963 – 25 July 2001), popularly known as "Bandit Queen", was an Indian bandit and later a politician. Born to a low caste family in rural Uttar Pradesh, Phoolan endured poverty as a child, had an unsuccessful marriage, and took to a life of crime.At the age of 18, Devi was allegedly gang-raped by bandits after the gang she was part of was ambushed by a rival gang.