103-strong women CRPF contingent to go to Liberia

NEW DELHI: A 103-strong contingent ofCRPF personnel, a majority of them mothers, will soon join an all-women UNPeacekeeping Force being sent to Liberia. The personnel belonging tothe world's largest paramilitary-- the CRPF -- will be in the west Africancountry as members of Female Formed Police Unit (FFPU) to help the Liberianpolice in law and order duties for a year. The contingent, with onlya handful of men for logistical duties, will be sent in two batches on February3 and 17. This is the third batch of personnel being sent to Liberia since 2007.The personnel have been for the first time trained to handle the 9mm pistol, a small weapon. "This third women battalion being sent toLiberia has been trained in all firearms like the other contingents but lookingat our past experiences of dealing with the crowd and upkeep of law and orderduties along with other security requirements, we have given the small armtraining to them this time," contingent commander for the 3rd FFPU Annie Abrahamsaid. More than 80 per cent women personnel are mothers and hailfrom 23 states of the country. While the youngest member of theteam, 27-year-old Monia Gusain is from Uttarakhand, the most experienced is43-year-old Taslima Khan who joined the CRPF in 1986 and also served in SriLanka with the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF).