CRPF gets its first women Inspector Generals

NEW DELHI: Two lady officers who were part of the first batch of women officers inducted into the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) in 1987, have been promoted to the rank of Inspector General (IG), a first for the country’s largest central para-military force.

Annie Abraham was appointed as IG in charge of Rapid Action Force (RAF), the anti-riots component of CRPF, on October 31. Seema Dhundia was handed charge as IG of Bihar sector on October 1.

While lady officers have held senior ranks across the country’s various para-military and central police forces, with Archana Ramasundram having served as DG of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and Manjari Jaruhar as Special DG in the CISF in the past, they have largely been from the IPS.

CRPF was first among the central para-military forces to raise an all-women battalion in 1986. It began the induction of women officers a year later.

A CRPF spokesperson on Wednesday said Dhundia has served in highly sensitive deployments and was actively involved in raising of the 2nd women’s battalion of the force. She was also the contingent commander of the first-ever all-women FPU (formed police unit) in the UN Mission in Liberia and has also served as DIG, RAF. Abraham, in addition to having commanded the all-female FPU in the UN Mission in Liberia, served as DIG, Intelligence in CRPF headquarters, as DIG Ops in Kashmir and as DIG, CR & Vigilance.

Speaking to TOI, Abraham said her last 35 years in CRPF have been full of challenges, given the force’s deployment in difficult areas like J&K and north-east. “There were challenges internally as well, as we worked with male counterparts. The psychological aspect of a woman officer commanding men was fun,” she said. As head of RAF, she said she will strive to keep the profile of RAF as a professional force meeting all kinds of exigencies.

Dhundia told TOI that she faced many challenges, being among the first women officers in a male-dominated organisation. “There were apprehensions and I put in double the efforts that my male counterparts may have. My effort will be that the challenges we faced should not be countered by women personnel now. I will try to ensure a conducive work environment for women in the CRPF,” she said. Asked if she anticipated any challenges in Bihar, where patriarchy is still an issue, she remarked: “Perhaps that is why CRPF chose to post me there. Honestly, I think the fact that a lady officer could become IG will motivate the local women to join the force,” she said.

Both Abraham and Dhundia have been awarded President’s Police Medal for distinguished Service, Police Medal for Meritorious service and Ati Utkrisht Sewa Padak, besides other national and international recognitions.

CRPF has six all-women battalions. They are deployed on active duty in J&K, Ayodhya, Manipur, Assam, Left-wing extremism-hit areas. Each RAF battalion also has a women’s wing. 34 women commandos have also been inducted in the elite CoBRA unit of CRPF that specialises in jungle warfare and counter-Naxal operations.

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