FEMALE FORCE

THE BIHAR GOVERNMENT’S DECISION TO INCREASE WOMEN’S RESERVATION IN ALL GOVERNMENT JOBS TO 35 PER CENT HAS PROVEN TO BE A GAME-CHANGER FOR THE STATE POLICE FORCE

- AMITABH SRIVASTAVA

Tann se thok denge (I’ll knock you down with a single bullet),” said the woman in police uniform, training her INSAS rifle at the man in front of her, finger on the trigger. “Try running away with my weapon,” she dared him, “I will shoot you at point-blank range.” What she didn’t know, however, was that the man she was threatening to shoot was the director-general of Bihar police.

This was in January 2020. Gupteshwar Pandey, then Bihar DGP, was taking a morning stroll in his civilian clothes near Bhagalpur’s Police Lines when he came across two women constables, INSAS rifles in hand. He asked them if they knew how to shoot.

“We have just returned from firing 45 rounds at our shooting range,” they replied. Pandey then asked them what they would do if he were to wrestle their weapons away and make a run for it. At this, the women, without any hesitation, raised their guns and dared him to try. Pandey, realizing the women meant business, quickly identified himself and ordered them to stand down. The two constables were later given cash rewards of Rs 5,000 each for their boldness, presence of mind, and bravery.

The incident, Bihar Police argue, confirms that their training program has succeeded in erasing the self-doubt female officers often suffer from in the male-dominated profession, especially in a state as patriarchal as Bihar can be. The road to recognition and success is still tougher for women, but the women police officers of Bihar are clearly up to the challenge.

THE RISING NUMBERS