‘Tainted’ officer included in President's police medal list

Thiruvananthapuram: A police officer who was under a cloud in connection with the Nedumbassery human trafficking case is among those selected for the President’s police medal for meritorious service announced last week.

He is Malappuram special branch Dy SP PK Vijayappan, who was kept away from sensitive postings last year by the state police chief. He had served in the emigration wing of Nedumbassery international airport during 2010-11.

According to a confidential report sent by state police chief K.S. Balasubramanian to the Home Secretary in May 2013, the investigating officer of the human trafficking case furnished a list of 19 officers who were linked to certain transactions relating to illegal human trafficking through the Nedumbassery airport. The name of Vijayappan was the third in the list, a copy of which is with the DC.

Reacting to the allegation, Mr. Vijayappan said that he was selected for the award after various levels of scrutiny, even by the Intelligence Bureau. “The emigration wing of Nedumbassery had even won honour for the best emigration wing while I was serving there. It seems the allegations against me are the outcome of the stern stand I had taken,” he said.

RTI activist D.B. Binu said that the government should ensure that the selection process for President's medals and other top honours was made transparent to avoid such issues.