GUWAHATI: The Delhi Police is set to make a historic move on the 75th Republic Day of India by showcasing an all-women contingent for the first time in its history. The contingent, consisting of 194 women officials, will march down Kartavya Path, the ceremonial boulevard in New Delhi, during the Republic Day parade.
IPS officer Shweta K Sugathan will lead the remarkable contingent, comprising women head constables, as they participate in the iconic parade on January 26. A noteworthy aspect of this year's Republic Day parade will be the inclusion of more than 80% women officials from Northeast India in the city force contingent.
Delhi Police officials emphasise that this aligns with their policy of recruiting individuals from the eight northeastern states, aiming to "bridge the gap" between the police and the people from that region. The contingent, currently undergoing daily practice in Delhi, consists mostly of recruits from the Delhi Police Armed Unit.
Breaking gender norms, the women's pipe band of the Delhi Police will be led by officer Ruyangunuo Kense, marking a departure from the traditional male leadership. Notably, the last time a woman officer led the Delhi Police contingent at the Republic Day parade was in 1975, when Kiran Bedi, India's first woman IPS officer, led an all-male contingent.