Kerala Police Trio Among National Awardees for Excellence in Operations and Forensics

Five Kerala police personnel have been selected for the 2026 Kendriya Grihamantri Dakshata Padak, a national medal recognizing top performance in special operations, investigations and forensic work. The Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the list on October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. The Kerala awardees are Narayanan T., serving as Deputy Inspector General of the Thrissur Range; Arun K. Pavithran, Deputy Commissioner of Police‑II for Law and Order in Kochi; and Inspectors Jijeesh P.K., Renjith K.R. and Vishnu P. A total of 490 officers from Central Armed Police Forces, central investigative agencies, Union Territories and state police forces received the honour this year, with 123 of them recognised in the criminal investigation category. The selection highlights the growing emphasis on scientific investigation methods across Indian law‑enforcement agencies.

Context

The Dakshata Padak was introduced by the Home Ministry to encourage skill development and modern policing techniques. Awardees are chosen from a nationwide pool, reflecting the ministry’s push for higher standards in forensic and investigative capabilities across the country.