Abdul Sathar Kunju


M. Abdul Sathar Kunju is a 1963 Batch officer of Indian Police Service who retired as the 21st Chief of Kerala Police in 1997.

Early life and education

Sathar Kunju was born into an affluent family in the small town of Ochira to Mohammed Kunju and Saliha Umma. He did his undergraduate and post graduate studies at S.N. College Kollam, University of Kerala. He bagged the prestigious Dr. A. Ramaswamy Mudaliar Gold Medal instituted by University of Kerala for first rank in Political Science.
He later attended Government Law College Thiruvananthapuram for Bachelors in Law.

Career

Sathar Kunju joined the Indian Police Service in 1963.
He started his career as Assistant Superintendent of Police of Alwaye, in 1966. He later took over as Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kochi. In 1967, he got promoted to the rank of Superintendent
of Police.
He served as Superintendent of Police of Kottayam, twice. He also served as the Superintendent of Police for Alleppy district. In 1971, he took over as Superintendent of Police, Thiruvananthapuram Rural. He also became the Principal of Police Training College, Thiruvananthapuram.
He served as Deputy Inspector General with Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau for three years. He also served as D.I.G. Crime Branch C.I.D. His tenure as D.I.G. South Zone saw the effective containment of riots at Poonthura and some other places. He also served the Motor Vehicle Department as Joint Transport Commissioner from 1983 to 85.
He again went back to Crime Branch C.I.D. and served as Inspector General of Police and Additional Director General of Police, before getting promoted to the rank Director General of Police.
He served as Director General of Police Jails from 1996-1997.
In early 1997 Mr.Sathar Kunju also held the post of Commandant General of Kerala Fire and Rescue Services.
Sathar Kunju retired as Director General Of Police, Kerala in June 1997.

Contribution

He was instrumental in creating the post of Medico-Legal Adviser for Kerala Police when he was Inspector General of Police. Noted forensic surgeon Dr. B. Umadathan was the first occupant of this post.

Crimes solved

He as D.I.G. oversaw the Investigation of the famous Ettumanoor Temple Theft case. It was highly appreciated by the then state Government.

Recognition

1- President's Medal for Distinguished Service in 1987.
2- President's Medal for Meritorious Service.

Family

He is married to Smt. Rafiya and the couple has two sons and two daughters.

In Books

1- Memoirs of a Forensic Surgeon by Dr. Umadathan discussed in detail about the contribution of Sathar Kunju.
2- Kerala Muslim History, Statistics and Directory by Dr. C.K. Karim in Volume-3 has a brief biographical write up.