Six Tamil Nadu cops selected for ‘Excellence in Investigation’ medal

Inspector G Janci Rani of Perungavur circle in Ramanathapuram, Inspector M Kavitha of Keeranur all-women police station in Pudukottai, A Ponnammal (Prohibition Enforcement Wing) of The Nilgris, Inspector C Chandrakala of Jeyankondam all-women police station in Ariyalur, Inspector T Vinoth Kumar (Central Crime Branch) of Chennai and Inspector A Kala of Arumbavur police station in Perambalur are among 121 police officers from across the country who have been selected for the model.

Speaking to DT Next, Inspector Vinoth Kumar said that he was selected for the medal after a report about various tools he used as part of the investigation of cybercrime cases in 2019 was submitted to the Union Home Ministry. The 2008 batch officer is a post-graduate in biotechnology. But he developed an interest in cybercrime after being inducted since that was the time Android phones were changing everything about the cyberspace. “We had regular training programmes since it was a growing field,” said Vinoth Kumar, who has just been promoted as an Inspector. He said that the city police Commissoiner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal appreciated him in person and asked him to keep learning.

Similarly, Inspector Ponnammal has been selected for the medal after her investigation helped convict a Pocso accused. “The offender impregnated a 16-year-old girl. We proved through DNA test that the accused was the father of the child and coerced both the witnesses and the victim that the offender will be punished. The accused was sentenced for life in February this year,” she said.

All six police officers are expected to be honoured at the Independence Day celebrations on Saturday.

Commissioner of Police Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal on Wednesday said that 15,000 police personnel will be deployed for security for the Independence Day celebrations. There will be five-tier security at Secretariat where Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami will hoist the flag on Saturday. The entire premises will be under CCTV surveillance, said the Commissioner. The official said security has been beefed up at railway stations and the airport and added that storming operations are underway to identify and secure anti-social elements.