The dusty parade ground inside the Police Training College at Gorimedu on Tuesday was witness to a historic occasion as the largest ever women recruits of the territorial police marched along with the male trainees and put to display some stunning acrobatic performance, including daredevil feats on motorbikes.
The 98 young recruits were in good spirits all throughout the passing out parade faulting not even once, whether it was the march past or a drill performance without a master to guide or the acrobatic motorbike ride.
If their drill performance was graceful with the women moving in tandem, their daredevil performance, including the pyramid formation, on motorbikes, was nerve-racking.
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The acrobatic display on motorbikes requires immense concentration, skill and rigorous practice, said an official in the rank of Inspector. Not even once they erred, he said adding never in the history of the force were women recruits taught riding skills. “They did it with perfection,” the official said.
“It is one of the best trained women constabulary forces in the country. It is the largest ever contingent of the territorial police. Nowhere else women constables are given training in acrobatics. It’s a proud moment and an investment for the next 30 to 40 years,” a beaming Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi told reporters.
This women constabulary would do beat patrol like their male counterparts, she added.
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Director General of Police S.K. Gautam said for a long time there had been a demand to have a women contingent to deal with crime against women. “Hence, an exclusive recruitment was conducted for the women constables,” he said.