A senior Indian police officer from Telangana has been given a prestigious award in the United States for his efforts in combating human trafficking. Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat has been recognized with the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Hero award. <br/><br/>The officer is currently serving as Commissioner of Police of Rachakonda in Telangana. He was presented the award in absentia by the US First Lady Melania Trump at the ceremony held yesterday at the State Department headquarters in Washington DC. <br/>'<br/>The Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, US Department of State listed him in the 2017 TIP Report Heroes. The State Department said, Mr Bhagwat participated in anti-trafficking operations helping hundreds of victims. <br/><br/>It said, with the help of government departments and civil society organisations, he ensured the placement of victims in support programmes. In all eight persons from across the world were presented with the prestigious annual award of the US.<br/>'''''''<br/>