The Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh
released the book titled ‘Veerappan, Chasing the Brigand’, written by Shri K.
Vijay Kumar, Senior Security Adviser, Ministry of Home Affairs, at a function
here today. Speaking on the occasion, Shri Rajnath Singh said that Shri Vijay
Kumar, who was the Chief of the
Special Task Force (STF) that was behind the killing of Veerappan during
“Operation Cocoon” in 2004, is
a role model for the new IPS Officers. Shri Rajnath Singh said the book will be
a source of valuable inspiration offering insight into the tactics that went
into the wiping out of the dreaded forest brigand on whom a prize money of
Rupees 5 crores had been declared more than a decade back.
The Union Home Minister said Shri Vijay Kumar
has played a major role in the MHA with the success of the anti-Maoist
operations in recent years.
Sharing his thoughts on the occasion, Shri
Vijay Kumar said the success of the “Operation Cocoon” resulting in the killing
of Veerappan taught him that the Jungle does not discriminate, – it is equally
harsh and punitive for both the foot soldier and the commanders.
Former Senior Police Officer Shri D.R.
Karthikeyan, Senior Journalist Shri Shekhar Gupta and Shri Kapish G. Mehra,
Managing Director, Rupa Publications also spoke on the occasion.
Shri Vijay Kumar is a former 1975 batch IPS
Officer from the Tamil Nadu cadre. He headed the prestigious Sardar Vallabhbhai
Patel National Police Academy in Hyderabad in 2008 and has also served as the
Director General of Central Reserve Police Force.
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KSD/NK/PK/KM
