Dr. C. Sylendra Babu (born 5 June 1962) is a 1987 batch Indian Police Service Officer serving as the current Director General of Police and Head of Police Force, Tamil Nadu Police. He holds a PhD degree in Criminology from the University of Madras. Early life and education Sylendra Babu was born in the town of Kuzhithurai, Kanniyakumari District, Tamil Nadu. He attended the Govt Higher Secondary School, Vilavancode, Kanyakumari District. He has BSc (Agriculture) from the Agricultural College and Research Institute, Madurai and majored in agriculture extension from the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. Later, he obtained BGL and MA degrees in Population Studies from the Annamalai University and was awarded a PhD for his thesis on "missing children" by the University of Madras. In 2013, he obtained a Master of Business Administration degree in Human Resources. Personal life Babu is known to follow a strict training regimen and has written a Tamil book on Physical fitness. He has actively participated in and supported various sport activities such as swimming, athletics, shooting, and cycling. During the course of his police training, he was awarded the RD Singh Cup for Swimming at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad. In December, 2004 he represented India for the 100 metres event in the Asian Masters Athletic Championships, Bangkok. He has also participated in several 10k runs such as the Chennai Marathon and the Coimbatore Marathon. He led a contingent of 26 marine commandos for the Half Marathon event in the 2014 Auroville Marathon. On 8 February 2013, Babu organised and participated in an 890 km cycle rally from Chennai to Kanyakumari along with the members of Coastal Security Group and Indian Coast Guard. The rally was over a period of 10 days and aimed at creating awareness about the functioning of Coastal police and the Coast Guard among coastal residents. Being an ardent shooter, he has also participated in various police and civilian shooting competitions. Police career Babu joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) as a member of the 1987 batch. He was trained at the National Police Academy, Hyderabad. He has served as the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), in Dharmapuri, Gobichettipalayam, Salem and Dindigul and as the Superintendent of Police (SP), in Chengalpattu, Sivagangai, Cuddalore and Kancheepuram districts and as the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Adayar-Chennai. He has also served as the Deputy Inspector-General (DIG) of Police of Viluppuram Range and