The lowering of the flags, called "Beating the Retreat", may soon see the female cops of the Border Security Force (BSF) becoming a permanent feature of the ceremony conducted every evening at the India-Pakistan joint check post of the Attari border.
The BSF has already made four female personnel a part of the retreat ceremony on experimental basis and if it succeeds, they will become a permanent feature of the parade.
The BSF had recruited female constables last year and put them on the frisking job at border for the first time in history.
Talking to HT, DIG BSF, Mohammad Aquil, said, "We had thought of involving the female force of the BSF into the retreat ceremony and for that we selected and trained 20 ladies from the force. And thereafter we finally picked four out of them."
"Currently these four are part of the ceremony. But this is on a trial basis and if the crowd's reaction and their performance is as per our satisfaction then we will make the ladies a permanent feature in the parade."
The height, enthusiasm, physical fitness and stamina of the personnel were kept in mind before selecting the female cops. And the tallest were put on job, he added.
{{/usCountry}}The height, enthusiasm, physical fitness and stamina of the personnel were kept in mind before selecting the female cops. And the tallest were put on job, he added.
{{/usCountry}}Detailing further on this, the DIG said, "We are also working on finalising the attire and ceremonial decorations for the ladies when they are finally made permanent part of the retreat ceremony."
It may be mentioned that if the ladies are made the permanent part of the retreat ceremony, it will be the first time in history to happen.
The flag-lowering ceremony has become major crowd puller in the past few years. And if female force of the BSF too becomes a permanent feature, it will give a new element to the parade.