Vijay Kumar Awarded Padma Shri for Policing Excellence

Veteran police officer K Vijay Kumar, who led the high-profile operation against forest brigand Veerappan, has been awarded the Padma Shri for distinguished service. The honour recognises his decades-long contribution to strategic policing, counter-insurgency and leadership in some of India’s most challenging internal security operations. Kumar, aged 74, is among the 113 Padma Shri awardees announced this year.

Career and Service Background

K Vijay Kumar is a 1975-batch Indian Police Service officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre. He retired from active service in 2012. Over his career, he held several key positions, including Chennai Police Commissioner, Inspector General of the Border Security Force in Kashmir, and Director of the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad. His work is widely regarded as influential in shaping modern counter-insurgency practices.

Role in Veerappan Operation

Kumar is best known for heading the Tamil Nadu Police Special Task Force that neutralised the notorious forest brigand Veerappan in 2004. The meticulously planned operation, code-named “Cocoon”, ended Veerappan’s long reign of violence across Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Kerala. Kumar later documented the operation in his book “Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand”, offering insights into jungle warfare and intelligence-led policing.

Leadership in Central Forces

In 2010, Kumar was appointed Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force following a deadly Maoist ambush in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh. During his tenure, the CRPF intensified counter-Naxal operations, including the successful action in which Maoist leader Kishenji was killed in 2011. Kumar later served as a security adviser in the Ministry of Home Affairs and advised the Jammu and Kashmir governor on security matters.

Imporatnt Facts for Exams

• Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India.
• Operation “Cocoon” led to the killing of Veerappan in 2004.
• CRPF’s CoBRA unit specialises in jungle warfare and anti-Naxal operations.
• Dantewada ambush of 2010 was one of the deadliest attacks on Indian security forces.

Recognition and Legacy

The government citation describes Kumar as a key architect of strategic policing against Naxalism and organised crime. Reacting to the honour, he credited his teams and colleagues for their collective efforts. The Padma Shri acknowledges not only individual bravery but also institutional leadership that strengthened India’s internal security framework.