All-women police patrol vans hit Delhi’s roads

NEW DELHI: Rakesh Bala was a bit nervous when she received a call in November last year. Bala was told she had been selected to undergo training to run all-women

NEW DELHI: Rakesh Bala was a bit nervous when she received a call in November last year. Bala was told she had been selected to undergo training to run all-women police patrol vans. The brief sounded rigorous but Bala was up for the task.

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On Friday, after spending nine months at Delhi Police’s Subsidiary Training Unit in Rajender Nagar, Bala was part of a team 20 women cops ready to take to the streets -- commandeering the capital’s first women-only patrol vans.

The first batch of patrol vans, consisting five cars, was flagged off by Delhi police commissioner Alok Varma on Friday.

“We had all received police training before being inducted into the force. The latest of our training was different, rigorous and challenging. We used to receive special commando training for six hours in the morning. We then had to go perform our regular police duties, before returning home and taking care of our families,” said Rakesh Bala.

The training, she said, began with a driving course which lasted for 60 days, followed by live firing drills, lessons on how to enhance communication skills , briefings on Indian laws, traffic rules and classes on self defence. The officers were taught how to administer first aid.

Head constable Babita, who trained along with Bala, said she felt empowered to be an armed commando in a PCR van.

“We have been taught how to administer first aid before rushing victims to a hospital. We will now be first responders and can save lives,” Babita said.

The head constable, who was earlier posted at south-east range, said she needed to improve her communication skills.

“I need to ensure that I calm down a person in distress. So I will be practising my communication skills at home. The training has however helped me polish them to a great extent,” she said.

The patrol vans that were flagged off on Friday will be deputed at five locations—Vigyan Bhawan, Jesus and Mary College, Khan Market Metro Station, American Centre - Kasturba Gandhi Marg and Moti Lal Nehru Marg. Each van will be will have three women personnel—a driver, a female officer in-charge and an armed woman commando. The vans will be stationed from 9am to 6pm daily.

These women officers have been trained to handle sophisticated MP5 assault rifles, Glock and 9mm pistols and have been provided high-level driving skills to chase down criminals.

San jay Baniwal, special commissioner( operations) said :“This is a step towards women empowerment. This pilot project will build confidence among women. We will introduce more such patrol vans soon.”