The Union Home Minister 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.