The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Team NPA receives hero’s welcome

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Tuesday, Dec 08, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Team NPA receives hero’s welcome

Staff Reporter

38-day expedition is to create awareness of fitness, freedom and environment

— Photo: S.R. Raghunathan

On a mission: Members of the cycling expedition organised by SVPNPA at the Marina Beach on Monday.

CHENNAI: Snowfall and rain in Jammu and Kashmir, rough roads and steep terrains of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh and varying climatic changes of Tamil Nadu. Nine police officers have just realised how incredible India can be by going on a cycle expedition that started in Kashmir and will end in Kanyakumari.

On Monday, the cycling enthusiasts were given a hero’s welcome here by senior officials of the Police Department.

The 38-day expedition covering about 3,840 km is being organised by the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy (SVPNPA) in association with TI Cycles.

NPA Joint Director G.U.G. Sastry, leader of the team, described the experience of the expedition as enriching and something that made him fit, meet friends and trainees. But, it isn’t another exercise which he hopes to forget.

“I plan to write a book and recall the experience,” said Mr. Sastry, explaining that writing is not new for him. The best part of the whole journey was the sense of discipline it brought in one, he said.

Right from practising for a month, taking up rigorous exercises, eating healthy food, the police personnel said they learnt and experienced a lot. “Jammu and Kashmir was the most unpredictable and the toughest.

It rained, the temperature was five degree and it also snowed,” said Nagesh Pal Singh, Assistant Drill Instructor from Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, the team was received by Chennai Suburban Police Commissioner S.R. Jangid at Red Hills, where he also cycled with the team for a few km.

From Chennai, the team would proceed to Kanyakumari, continuing to create awareness of fitness, freedom and environment, en route.

Director General of Police K.P. Jain, Additional Director of Armed Police N.P. Singh, Commissioner of Police T. Rajendran, Managing Director of Tube Investments of India L. Ramkumar and president of TI Cycles D. Raghuram participated in a programme organised at the Marina Beach.

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