Retiring DGP Seema Agrawal Honoured With Farewell Parade At Rajarathinam Stadium

A farewell parade was held on Saturday at Rajarathinam Stadium to honour retiring senior IPS officer and Director General of Police Seema Agrawal, who urged the Tamil Nadu police force to become more humane, compassionate, and citizen-centric. Agrawal, a 1993-batch IPS officer currently serving as the Director of Tamil Nadu Fire and Rescue Services, is scheduled to retire from service at the end of June 2026 upon reaching the age of superannuation.

Director General of Police and Head of Police Force Mahesh Kumar Agarwal, alongside other senior police officers, attended the event at the stadium to greet her on the occasion. Personnel of the Armed Reserve conducted the parade.

In her farewell address, the outgoing DGP reflected on her 36 years of service in the police force. Recalling her extensive career across law and order, investigation, and various specialised units, Agrawal noted that her assignments in special wings gave her a unique perspective on policing.

"Sometimes, the view from the sidelines is far more vivid, like the sky at sunrise and sunset," she remarked, explaining that her years of mindful observation had prompted her to reflect deeply on the future direction of policing.

During her speech, Agrawal urged the Tamil Nadu Police personnel to introspect on several key questions. She asked whether officers could remain kind and compassionate towards their subordinates, the public, and even accused persons.

She also stressed the need for the force to pay greater attention to marginalised victims, particularly missing persons and unidentified bodies. Furthermore, she encouraged officers to explore ways to help road accident victims receive their insurance claims more quickly.

Describing the Tamil Nadu Police as one of the country’s finest forces with a rich legacy, Agrawal concluded that continuous self-assessment and the active pursuit of solutions to these questions would help the organisation reach greater heights in the future.