Three senior IPS officers of the Tamil Nadu cadre have been given the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service.
Additional Director-General of Police and Director, Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, R.C. Kudawla, ADGP (Crime Branch CID) Karan Singha and Additional Commissioner of Police (North & West), Chennai Police, P. Thamaraikannan, were chosen for the award on the occasion of the Independence Day.
Mr. Kudawla, a 1987-batch IPS officer, served as Superintendent of Police in Kancheepuram, Tiruchi and Vellore. He was Deputy-Inspector General of Police in Dindigul, Madurai, Thanjavur and Vellore Range. On promotion as Inspector-General of Police, he served in different capacities, including IGP of North Zone.
Mr. Karan Singha, who earlier served as the Commissioner of Chennai Suburban Police, had a stint in the Central Bureau of Investigation where he handled some sensitive cases.
Mr. Thamaraikannan was previously awarded the President’s Medal for Gallantry Service, President’s Medal for Meritorious Service and the TN Chief Minister’s Medal for meritorious service. He was conferred with IPS in 1993.
He was part of team that apprehended Al-Umma activists with live ammunitions in Andhra Pradesh in 1998 following the Coimbatore blast. He also played a vital role in pinning down a gang that abducted a UK couple for ransom from the Chennai Airport.
Among the 20 police officials who got the Police Medal for Meritorious Service were S. Murugan, DIG (Villuppuram Range), and P. Nagarajan, DIG (Headquarters).
The Chief Minister’s Police Medal for Excellence in Investigation was given to M. Gunasekaran, Inspector, K.K. Nagar police station, Tiruchi; R. Dhanaraju, Inspector, District Crime Branch, Tirupur; S. Rajkumar Navaraj, Inspector, Crime Branch, CBCID, Tuticorin; P.R. Chidambara Murugesan, Inspector, Thittakudi police station, Cuddalore district and P. Kumar, Inspector, Vikkravandi police station, Villuppuram district.
Vijayendra Bidari, Superintendent of Police, Tirunelveli district, P.K. Pethu Vijayan, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Special Branch CID, Chennai, and K. Sridharan, Sub-Inspector of Police, Intelligence Section, Tiruchi City, were chosen for the CM’s Police Medal for Excellence in Public Service.