Bhopal, Naiduniya Representative. Out of the total 24 battalions of Madhya Pradesh Police, only the 23rd battalion has a special women’s company. In the only women police company of the state, from commander to constable, only women perform duty. This special team of 95 women is present on every front not only for the security of citizens but also for the security of important persons.
Even after 38 years of its establishment, this company, which has made its specialty by being the only one, has ensured security by being deployed during the Ayodhya decision, the Bawri demolition in Ayodhya, Ujjain Sinhastha, Jal Satyagraha. Recently, this company, which returned from performing its duty at Nagdwari, was seen playing its role in the 15th August parade.
Inspector Neelima Saraf, in-charge of the women’s company, says that the women’s company of the 23rd battalion was formed on 29 April 1986. The women’s company not only plays an important role in maintaining peace and law and order in the state, but also strengthens the internal security of the country. This company has also received the DG Disc Award twice so far.
Protecting citizens in a disaster
Women officers and employees posted in the Mahila Company formed in the 23rd Battalion are deployed for the security of citizens during disasters, maintaining law and order, VIP security and large-scale events like Simhastha. This company also displayed immense bravery by discharging its duty to help the injured and protect life and property during the natural disaster in Kedarnath in the year 2013.
Women doing water satyagraha were taken out from the boat
In 2012, villagers near Khardana village in Harda district had organized a water satyagraha to protest against the increase in the water level of the Indira Sagar dam built on the Narmada river. Here, along with the Home Guard and District Police personnel, the responsibility of persuading the water satyagrahis and ending their agitation was given to the women’s company.
At that time, women constables went into the Narmada river and rescued the water satyagrahis safely with the help of a boat. During the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992, a company of women officers and employees was deployed to restore peace and law and order.
Women formed in 23rd battalion performed their duty even at the risk of their lives
Yogeshwari Solanki, a woman constable posted in the company, said that in 2011, during the railway agitation demanding compensation on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of the Bhopal gas tragedy, she was posted on duty in Aishbagh.
At that time, while removing the agitators from the tracks, the crowd turned violent and tried to set the police post on fire by sprinkling petrol on it. Then, along with the district police force and SF personnel, the women personnel in the women’s contingent also played an important role in controlling the crowd.
DG Disc Award has been received for excellent work
The women officers posted in the company have been honoured with the DG Disc Award twice. Apart from the first in-charge of the company, Maneka Gurung, Inspector Shaili Thomas has also received this award. Apart from this, this women’s company has also received many national and state level honours.