Subsequently, the govt issued a GO granting one-stage accelerated promotion to more than 900 police personnel in various ranks in recognition of the courageous act of encounter and killing of Veerappan and his gang.
VeerappanSTF head K Vijay Kumar awarded Padma Shri... The STF team included retired forest guards, watchers, drivers, deputy conservators of forests, assistant forest guards and range forest officers who participated in the anti-Veerappan operations.