In A First For Paramilitary Force CRPF, 2 Women Get Inspector General Rank

Annie Abraham (left) and Seema Dhundia, both promoted to CRPF Inspector General

New Delhi:

The proverbial glass ceiling in the country’s largest paramilitary force has finally been broken. For the first time in 35 years since the first female battalion was raised in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), two female officers have been promoted to the rank of Inspector General (IG). IG is a field leader in CRPF.

Both officers were inducted into the CRPF in 1987.

According to officials, by order of CRPF headquarters, Annie Abraham has been appointed as the IG of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), while Seema Dhundia has been appointed as the IG of the Bihar Sector.

This is the first time the RAF has been led by a women’s IG.

“We joined CRPF in 1986 and were introduced a year later. Since then, we have seen many difficult situations,” Ms. Abraham told NDTV.

According to her, after her training, she was posted on Ayodhya. “It was early days when the skirmishes were just starting, but we learned a lot,” she said.

Both officers have also commanded an all-female Indian police team at the United Nations.

They have also been decorated with the Presidential Police Medal for Distinguished Service, the Police Medal for Distinguished Service and the ‘Ati Utkrisht Sewa Padak’ during their service, a CRPF spokesman said. .

Ms. Dhundia told NDTV that although she was the commander of the operation, she also wanted to play the role of a mentor. “I want to make our military professional, of perfect character and conduct and of course an environment conducive to young women to join this great force.”

The RAF Air Force consists of 15 battalions deployed for anti-riot, counter-protest and law-and-order sensitive missions in various parts of the country and deployed to support the force. State police manage the crowd and also during VIP visits.

CRPF’s Bihar Sector commands approximately four battalions deployed for anti-Naxal operations and other law-and-order missions, in addition to several RAF and CoBRA units, which specialize in jungle operations.

The CRPF was the first Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) to attract women into combat in 1986. Currently, the force has six such battalions with female police officers occupying more than 6,000 stations.

“I led an all-male battalion in Mizoram and had to move the central battalion from there to Jammu when the land conflict broke out in 2008. To keep the herd together was a challenging task.” , Miss Abraham recalls and adds that now in her. In her new role, she will ensure that the RAF achieves higher heights.