In a rare honour, the US Embassy Charge d'Affaires Steven White on Wednesday honoured a Hyderabadi policeman for his contribution to the fight against human trafficking, at the US Consulate, Begumpet.
The honour was accorded to Inspector General of Police Sattaru Umapathi in recognition of his efforts and willingness to cross state borders to rescue victims of human traffickers.
The US Department of State's Office To Monitor And Combat Trafficking In Persons had earlier announced Umapathi's name in its 2010 Trafficking In Persons report as a TIP Hero. The US government praised Umapathi for his contribution to the prevention of human trafficking, according to anti-trafficking protocols of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Umapathi is the first Indian government official to be honoured for his TIP work and the key role he played in rescuing victims, an official statement by the US Embassy said.
The statement added that his arrests of traffickers led to multiple convictions with sentences ranging from four to 14 years imprisonment.