P. Vijayan

Puthiyottil Vijayan was born on 4 February 1968 in a not-so-affluent family in a remote hamlet called Puthoormadam near Kozhikode in North Kerala. He is the third child of seven siblings.

Vijayan studied in High School at Pantheerankavu High School, Kozhikode. When he failed to clear the Secondary School Leaving Certificate exam on his first attempt, he had to take up employment in construction sites at an early age. It was only after a gap of two years that he managed to pass this exam. Determined to earn a college degree, he set up a small scale soap manufacturing unit and took classes for school children.{{Cite news|title=Meet the modern day role models|first=Krishna|last=Kumar|date=September 27, 2012|url=http://archive.asianage.com/kochi/meet-modern-day-role-models-673|newspaper=The Asian Age}}

Vijayan went on to do an MA and MPhil in economics from Calicut University, and finally passed the Civil Services examination in 1999 to join the IPS.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.tehelka.com/life-lessons-from-a-police-officer-who-was-once-a-child-labourer/|title=Life lessons from a police officer who was once a child labourer|magazine=Tehelka|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-date=27 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141227101014/http://www.tehelka.com/life-lessons-from-a-police-officer-who-was-once-a-child-labourer/|url-status=dead}}

In October 2001 he began his policing career as the Assistant Superintendent of Police (Kanhangad) in Kasaragod District. He has been District Police Chief of several districts including Kasaragod, Thiruvananthapuram Rural, Malappuram, Ernakulam Rural and was the first to have served as Commissioner of Police in all four Commissionerates in the state, viz. Thiruvananthapuram,{{cite press release|url=http://news.entecity.com/trivandrum-can-sleep-well-the-city-police-commissioner-is-on-the-alert/|title=Trivandrum can sleep well- The City Police Commissioner is on the alert|date=5 February 2013|website=news.entecity.com}} Kozhikode, Thrissur and Kochi.

Vijayan headed the police organization of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the state, as its Police Commissioner.{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/New-Commissioner-Takes-Charge/2014/02/18/article2062746.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103090157/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/New-Commissioner-Takes-Charge/2014/02/18/article2062746.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2015|title=New Commissioner Takes Charge|newspaper=New Indian Express}}

He also had held simultaneous charge as Deputy Inspector General of Police (Battalions) overseeing all Police Battalions in Kerala, as well as official-in-charge of the Kerala Railway Police while holding the position of DIG (Intelligence).

File:P. Vijayan IPS, speaking at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore, 2013.jpg

In acknowledgement of his efforts to promote a drug-free community, in particular among youth, he was awarded a fellowship in 2013 to attend the Global Tobacco Control Leadership Programme at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Washington DC, USA.{{cite web|url=http://www.emalayalee.com/varthaFull.php?newsId=52024|title=പി. വിജയന്‍ ഐ.പി.എസിനു യു.എസില്‍. നിന്നു അന്താരാഷ്ട്ര പുരസ്‌കാരം|date=6 June 2013 |publisher=}}

P Vijayan had held the post of IG of Anti Terrorist Squad and managing director of Kerala Books and Publications Society. later as the IG Training, Kerala Police. and was promoted as the ADGP in 2024. and holds the office of Director, Kerala Police Academy

A Kerala cadre police official, Vijayan led the teams that investigated the Kalamassery Bus Burning case,{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/12/stories/2005091205970400.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150103040754/http://www.thehindu.com/2005/09/12/stories/2005091205970400.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2015-01-03|title=Kerala / Kochi News : Seven being grilled in bus-burning case|date=2005-09-12|newspaper=The Hindu}} the Sabarimala Thanthri case,{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Sobha-John-10-others-convicted-in-tantri-case/articleshow/15397593.cms?referral=PM|title=Sobha John, 10 others convicted in tantri case|newspaper=The Times of India|date=8 August 2012 }} the Chelembra bank robbery,{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Dhoom-inspired-gang-found-guilty/articleshow/19119372.cms|title=Dhoom-inspired gang found guilty|newspaper=The Times of India|date=26 October 2017 }} and the email threat case against the Prime Minister of India.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Email-threat-to-PM-Prez-3-held/articleshow/193593.cms?referral=PM|title=Email threat to PM, Prez; 3 held|newspaper=The Times of India|date=28 October 2006 }}

Vijayan's community initiatives include a Police Call Centre at Kozhikode,{{cite web |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/kerala/police-call-centre-launched-104085.html |title='Police Call Centre', launched, Kerala - Mathrubhumi English News Online |accessdate=2015-01-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101195606/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/news/kerala/police-call-centre-launched-104085.html |archivedate=1 January 2015 |df=dmy-all }}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/police-to-set-up-call-centre/article537800.ece|title=Police to set up call centre|date=28 July 2010|newspaper=The Hindu}} and Pink Autos programme in Thiruvananthapuram for safe travel by women.{{cite web|url=http://mathrubhuminews.in/ee/ReadMore/3466/after-she-taxi-now-its-pink-auto/E|title=സ്ത്രീകള്‍ക്കായി ഇനി പിങ്ക് ഓട്ടോ|publisher=mathrubhuminews.in}}{{cite web|url=http://news.entecity.com/keralas-first-women-friendly-auto-rickshaws-to-be-inaugurated-in-trivandrum/|title=Kerala's first women friendly auto rickshaws to be inaugurated in Trivandrum|date=2 May 2013|publisher=}} He also initiated an innovative "Punyam Poonkavanam" {{cite web|url=http://www.wirenews.in/sabarimala.html|title=WireNews.in - INDIA|publisher=}} project to promote waste cleanup at the Sabarimala pilgrimage site{{cite news

|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/kerala/article2665636.ece

|title=Cleaning Sabarimala becoming a collective responsibility

|work=The Hindu

|date=27 November 2011

|accessdate=27 November 2011}}{{cite news

|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/sabarimala-sets-a-model-for-sustainable-waste-treatment/article4110321.ece

|title=Sabarimala sets a model for sustainable waste treatment

|newspaper=The Hindu

|accessdate=19 November 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://english.manoramaonline.com/in-depth/sabarimala/sabarimala/punyam-pookavanam-project-gains-momentum.html|title=Error 404 - Not found|publisher=|access-date=1 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101195436/http://english.manoramaonline.com/in-depth/sabarimala/sabarimala/punyam-pookavanam-project-gains-momentum.html|archive-date=1 January 2015|url-status=dead}} and a Traffic Safety & Learning Centre at Thrissur,{{cite web |url=http://www.changemakers.com/project/traffic-education-road-safety-centre?enid=189641 |title=TRAFFIC EDUCATION & ROAD SAFETY CENTRE | Changemakers |accessdate=2015-01-01 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101195536/http://www.changemakers.com/project/traffic-education-road-safety-centre?enid=189641 |archivedate=1 January 2015 |df=dmy-all }} and School Protection Groups.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/school-protection-groups-to-be-extended-to-more-schools-in-city/article3561781.ece|title=School Protection Groups to be extended to more schools in city|date=23 June 2012|newspaper=The Hindu}}

In August 2005, Vijayan, as Commissioner of Police, Kochi City, constituted a team of "Shadow Police" as the first of its kind in the State. Subsequently, such units have been formed and are functional in Kozhikode, Thrissur and Trivandrum.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/article3420597.ece|title=Shadow Police complete a year|date=15 May 2012|newspaper=The Hindu}} He also initiated the State Temple anti-Theft Squad in Kerala.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/templetheft-gang-busted/article4528337.ece|title=Temple-theft gang busted|date=20 March 2013|newspaper=The Hindu}}

In acknowledgement of his efforts to promote a drug-free community, Vijayan was awarded a fellowship in 2013 to attend the Global Tobacco Control Leadership Programme at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg Institute for Public Health in Washington DC, USA.{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/police-commissioner-selected-for-fellowship/article4816662.ece|title=Police Commissioner selected for fellowship|date=15 June 2013|newspaper=The Hindu}} Subsequently, Vijayan has been designated as state coordinator to lead the statewide school-level anti-drug abuse campaign of Government of Kerala, viz. "Safe Campus Clean Campus"{{cite web| url=http://safecampus.keralapolice.gov.in/messages/message_nodal_officer | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170614173829/http://safecampus.keralapolice.gov.in/messages/message_nodal_officer | archive-date=2017-06-14 | title=Message of State Coordinator, Clean Campus Safe Campus project}}{{failed verification|date=December 2020|reason=Citation doesn't say why he was selected as coordinator.}}

File:P Vijayan IPS With Student Police Cadet.JPG

Early in his professional career, Vijayan realised that it was necessary for police to connect with youth in a healthy and positive manner. This would not only create a good image of the police in young minds, but also channel the adolescent fascination with authority in a positive and productive manner.{{cite web|url=http://www.apnnews.com/2010/11/10/man-making-is-our-mission-crime-free-society-our-ambition/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707152107/http://apnnews.com/2010/11/10/man-making-is-our-mission-crime-free-society-our-ambition/|url-status=dead|archive-date=2011-07-07|title='Man making is our mission, Crime-free society our ambition'|publisher=APN News}}

Thus, Vijayan launched a Student Police Cadet Project in August 2010 in 127 schools across Kerala, with 11,176 students - both boys and girls - enrolled as Cadets (G.O (P) No 121/2010/Home dtd 29-05-2010). The project has now been expanded to a statewide network of 433 schools with a combined strength of nearly 35,000 SPCs, being trained by over 850 existing teachers and nearly 1,500 officers of Kerala Police.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.thesundayindian.com/en/story/student-police-cadet-a-success-story/14/40748/|title=Student Police Cadet, a success story - T. Satisan|magazine=The Sunday Indian}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/student-police-cadet-project-to-go-national/article3207395.ece|title=Student Police Cadet project to go national|date=24 March 2012|newspaper=The Hindu|last1=Haridas|first1=Anand}} This programme is planned for expansion throughout India.{{cite web|url=http://www.spcgujarat.org/Eng/WhtSPC.aspx|title=SPC|publisher=}}{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/state-to-replicate-kerala-s-student-police-cadet-project/article1-1135417.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131120090957/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/state-to-replicate-kerala-s-student-police-cadet-project/article1-1135417.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 November 2013|title=State to replicate Kerala's Student Police Cadet project|date=15 October 2013|newspaper=The Hindustan Times}}

As Kozhikode City Police Commissioner, Vijayan initiated the Our Responsibility to Children (ORC) project to address the increasing socially deviant behaviour among adolescents.{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kozhikode/Kozhikode-police-project-for-children-to-be-extended/articleshow/16510170.cms|title=Kozhikode police project for children to be extended|newspaper=Times of India}} The success of the project prompted Government of Kerala to take it up in all districts, under the aegis of the Kerala Social Security Mission.{{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/ORC-project-to-be-extended-to-all-districts/2013/04/30/article1568430.ece?service=print|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103061432/http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/thiruvananthapuram/ORC-project-to-be-extended-to-all-districts/2013/04/30/article1568430.ece?service=print|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2015|title=ORC project to be extended to all districts|newspaper=New Indian Express}}

Vijayan is also founder of the Police Youth Football Academy, a football programme for youth at Thrissur.{{Cite web|url=http://archive.asianage.com/football/police-football-academy-kicks-374|title=Police football academy kicks off|website=The Asian Age}} He then founded a similar academy at Thiruvananthapuram.{{cite web|url=http://footballnewsindia.in/m-vijayan-head-kerala-police-football-academy/|title=I.M Vijayan to Head Kerala Police Football Academy - Football News India|date=16 October 2013|publisher=}}{{cite news|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/metroplus/playing-a-game-that-counts/article3938642.ece|title=Playing a game that counts|date=26 September 2012|newspaper=The Hindu}}

Vijayan is married to Dr M. Beena IAS, a medical doctor by training and a civil servant (Kerala cadre 1999){{cite news|url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/edex/article325124.ece?service=print|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150103071338/http://www.newindianexpress.com/education/edex/article325124.ece?service=print|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 January 2015|title=Steeled to cross all hurdles|newspaper=New Indian Express}} by profession, and the couple have two school-going children. In 2008, Vijayan And Beena were recognised as the Model Official Couple by Thrissur-based South Indian Bank Ltd.{{cite press release|url=http://www.indiaprwire.com/pressrelease/financial-services/200804108677.htm|title=South Indian Bank Selects D.S.P.Mr.P.Vijayan and District Collector Dr.M.Beena As "Model Official Couple"|agency=India PR Wire}}

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Category:Indian police officers

Category:Living people

Category:1968 births

Category:Civil servants from Kerala