Indian women again gave everyone a chance to feel proud. For the first time since their induction into the CRPF in 1987, two female officers have been appointed as Inspectors General (IG).
Annie Abraham has been promoted to Inspector General (IG) of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), a specialised anti-riot unit. Seema Dhundia has been appointed as the IG for the Bihar sector.
“Both the women officers joined the paramilitary force in 1987 as the first batch of women officers. They have also commanded an all-women Indian police contingent at the UN. They have been decorated with the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service, Police Medal for Meritorious Service and the ‘Ati Utkrisht Sewa Padak’ during
their service,” said a CRPF spokesperson.
Abraham said that the appointment was an honour for her and thanked her seniors for their support. “My parents worked with BHEL in Bhopal where I grew up and it was my mother’s dream to send me to the force, which is not so common. My father supported my mother’s decision, but unfortunately, they are not with me to see me in this position,” said Abraham, who is from Kerala’s Alappuzha district.
Dhundia said: “I am feeling very proud and my journey in the force was very challenging, where we learnt a lot of things. My father is from an Army background and it was my decision to join this force.” She was actively involved in raising the second Mahila Battalion of the force and was also the contingent commander of the first ever all-women FPU in the UN Mission in Liberia. She was serving as DIG in the RAF.
CRPF appoints two women officers
According to officials, women IPS officers have led CRPF formations in the past, and the CRPF was the first central armed police force to induct women into combat in 1986. It currently has six such battalions, with over 6,000 female constables serving in them.
“I am hoping that more women will join the force in the coming days,” she said.
In the CRPF, an IG is the sector commander. The RAF’s 15 battalions are used for anti-riot, counter-protest, and sensitive law and order duties. It is called in to assist state police forces during events with large crowds as well as VIP visits.
Apart from some small units of the RAF and the jungle warfare unit CoBRA, the Bihar Sector of the CRPF commands about four battalions of the force that are deployed for anti-Naxal operations and other law-and-order duties.
