By Daiaphira Kharsati
SHILLONG: Four Khasi women have broken the glass ceiling by making their way to the country’s first all women Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) inducted by Delhi Police for anti-terrorist operations.
Milinhun Kharkongor from Mawpynthih in Mylliem, Sooki Sana from Mukha-Ialong, Lesmilin Malai from Kynton Phanram, Umden in Ri Bhoi, and Rikynti Kharsahnoh from Jyntah, Happy Valley were the women in the male bastion.
“We were happy and shocked at the same time as we did not expect that we would be selected for the SWAT team. We thought we would just go for Commando duty. They (the SWAT team officers) were pleased with our hard-work and determination,” Kharkongor told The Shillong Times over the phone.
The four from the state were among the 36 women police personnel who were inducted to the all-women SWAT commando team.
Women from the eight sister states of the northeastern region were inducted to the force and they are 13 from Assam, five each from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim and Manipur, four from Meghalaya, two from Nagaland and one each from Mizoram and Tripura.
In an interview with The Shillong Times over the phone, Kharkongor said after the completion of training that took around a year, Delhi Police authorities selected them for further commando training.
She further informed that after the Commando training, the women were selected for SWAT training which was conducted in Delhi.
The genesis
Sana said the women applied for the post of constable in Delhi Police. While in Delhi, they received basic training for constables for one year.
“Before the training of the Delhi Police Constable concluded, they (the Delhi police authorities) called us for voluntary training in commando,” she said.
She added that the women filled the application forms for commando training. The ladies found their calling when the members of the SWAT team visited them after the commando training concluded in February.
“The SWAT team officers said they would be monitoring the women during training to get selected to the SWAT team as there is no SWAT team in Delhi Police… the ladies would have their guns with them all the time,” Sana said.
She added that after careful consideration and monitoring, the SWAT team finally selected them.
Sana said they found no challenges. In fact, they sounded excited about their new job.
For Kharkongor, Sana, Kharsahnoh and Malai, making it to the coveted force was not a difficult task and that too being the first batch from the North East.
On the prospect of going to Delhi, Kharsahnoh said, “It is all up to us, even if we get a job outside the state, we should try and not be idle. Many a time, for women, we are dissuaded from going outside. We need to try. Government jobs are safe unlike jobs in companies.”
“Girls should not be afraid to move ahead, fear will lead us nowhere,” she added.
It may be mentioned that Delhi Police inducted India’s first all-woman SWAT team for anti-terrorist operations after 15 months of rigorous training.