Team Herald
PANJIM: Two police officials have been awarded Kendriya Grihamantri Dakshata Padak recognising their outstanding service for law enforcement.
While the Superintendent of Police (SP) (Crime and Cyber Crime) Rahul Gupta, IPS, has been awarded for his outstanding work when he was posted in Arunachal Pradesh, Police Inspector Vinayak N Patil has been awarded for solving a blind murder case, while he was posted as Curchorem PI.
While serving as SP in Tirap District, Arunachal Pradesh, Gupta was instrumental in leading a team than led to the arrest of Vito S Awomi, a high-ranking NSCN (U) insurgent, and two overground workers (OGWs) involved in an extortion network targeting government officials, business owners, and village leaders.
On May 6, 2022, an unidentified elderly woman’s body was found with head injuries at an isolated spot in Guddemol, Sanvordem. The case, initially registered as unnatural death at Curchorem Police Station, revealed signs of foul play after a detailed autopsy. Recognising the severity, the case was then registered under Section 302 IPC as murder.
PI Vinayak Patil, the then Incharge of Curchorem Police Station, was entrusted with the investigation, who was instrumental in bringing the case to its logical conclusion.