Chennai, Jan. 26 -- Retired IPS officer K Vijay Kumar from Tamil Nadu who led the force to end the story of forest brigand Veerapan was on Sunday conferred with Padma Shri award in the civil service category. The 73-year-old decorated IPS officer, known popularly as "Super Cop" is most known for leading Operation Cocoon in 2004 that resulted in the death of Veerappan the same year.

He held several top positions including that of director-general of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) for two years from 2010. He also served as a Senior Security Advisor to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs specifically on countering Left-wing extremism areas from which he stepped down in 2022. He was Inspector General of the Border Security Force (BSF...