Demand grows for creation of separate police sub-division in Thuraiyur

The long-pending proposal for a separate Thuraiyur police sub-division has gained fresh momentum, with rising population and regional complexity strengthening calls from residents and activists for dedicated law enforcement, particularly in remote and hilly areas like Pachamalai.

At present, Thuraiyur falls under the jurisdiction of the Musiri police sub-division, which oversees eight police stations, including Thuraiyur and Uppiliyapuram. However, the vast and complex geography — bordering Namakkal, Salem, and Perambalur districts and covering the remote hill villages of Pachamalai — has made effective policing a challenge for the Musiri Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP).

Sources in the police department said the proposal under consideration would bring together the Thuraiyur, Uppilliyapuram, and Pulivalam police stations (the latter currently part of the Jeeyapuram sub-division) under the new Thuraiyur sub-division. The move would facilitate upgrade of the Erakudi police outpost into a full-fledged police station, strengthen the existing Uppilliyapuram police station, and pave the way for setting up new outposts in key locations such as Pachamalai and Puliyancholai.

The Pachamalai hills, comprising the panchayats of Kombai, Vannadu, and Thenpuranadu, remain largely underserved. In emergencies, it takes 45 minutes to an hour for personnel to reach these areas, with further delays at night or during bad weather. As part of the sub-division proposal, establishing a dedicated police outpost atop Pachamalai is under consideration.

Though Thuraiyur has separate units for traffic enforcement and the Prohibition and Enforcement Wing (PEW), it still lacks an All Women Police Station (AWPS). At present, women from Pachamalai and surrounding areas must travel nearly 40 km, often taking over two hours, to access the nearest AWPS located in Musiri.

“This 50-year-old municipality still lacks its own police sub-division,” said N. Saravanan, a road safety activist, and added that a separate DSP would improve policing and support development in the Thuraiyur region.

Sharing his experience, Mr. Saravanan, a resident of Puthanampatti, pointed out the difficulties faced by several neighbouring villages like Vellakalpatti and Abinimanagalam, which come under the limits of Pulivalam police station. “Pulivalam is under Jeeyapuram sub-division, 12 km away, and there is no direct bus to reach there. If these areas are brought under the proposed Thuraiyur sub-division, it would address long-standing accessibility issues for residents,” he added.

A senior police official from the Tiruchi SP office said the proposal had been sent to the State government and the department had been consistently pursuing it.