The Hindu Business Line : Rewarding STF

THE grievance expressed in the Legislative Assembly by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalithaa, about the Centre's rejection of the State Government's recommendations in regard to some senior police officers belonging to the Special Task Force (STF) who were instrumental in terminating the career of the dreaded Veerappan and his accomplices on October 18 last year is justified to a large extent.

It was certainly a monumental achievement and stands apart from operations against naxalites and militants. As regards the latter, the police, para-military and army contingents are accustomed to the kinds of depredations to be expected and countered. As regards Veerappan, the operation was unique, involving looking for him by combing large and inaccessible terrain under dense forest, where he had all the advantage and the STF was courting danger and death at every turn.

The offensive and defensive strategy to be adopted had to be novel, fine-tuned and improvised since the Force was up against an unimaginably cunning and vicious ogre. Naturally, with their narrow perspective and experience, and gifted with little imagination, bureaucrats and politicians in Delhi had no idea of the phenomenal nature of the effort made by the Tamil Nadu STF. That may explain, but does not justify, the lack of basic decency on their part in not even conveying their appreciation to the officers or the State Government.

The governing class at the Centre has been equally churlish in ignoring the recommendations for the award of Padma Shree for Mr Vijaya Kumar for his brilliant strategy and leadership, and Ashok Chakra for Mr Senthamaraikkannan, and Kirti Chakra for Messrs Velladurai, M. Saravanan and V. Kumaresan for the exemplary courage displayed by them.

They certainly deserved the recognition in comparison with, as the Chief Minister remarked, "all sorts of people" who are honoured.

In regard to the out-of-turn promotions of the IPS officers to the higher grade, however, the Home Ministry, being duty bound to maintain balance and fairplay in the career prospects of All-India Services, had no option but to turn them down in view of the undesirable repercussions it would have on the service cadres of other States, besides becoming the subject matter of perhaps successful challenge in court.

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Building urban infrastructure

PILs beyond the sugar coat

FDI cap raised in telecom — The quake in the coalition

Business process re-engineering: A tool to further banks' strategic goals

Farm policy — a twisted tale

Rewarding STF

Budget and Left