With 130 inspectors, Chennai city police have highest ever number of women officers

“This is the first time so many women inspectors are working in the field in Chennai.

A total of 130 women inspectors are a part of various units of the city police. The number has never been this high in the past. This is because more number of women inspectors are available for selection,” a senior city police officer said.

Statistics showed that as many as 32 women officers are now heading crime units in 135 police stations across the city.

In a city where property offences and snatching of valuables are regular affairs, the skills of these officers are put to test on a daily basis. But they are ready to take on the challenge and perform. “They are excellent. They work very hard and produce results,” noted AK Viswanathan, city police commissioner.

Apart from the crime wings, six other women officers are heading Law and Order units in police stations across the city, while 15 inspectors in the Traffic Investigation wing are women.

“Nobody messes with me. My senior officers are very co-operative and understanding.

When I take my work seriously and do it, nobody interferes,” said inspector E Rajeshwari, who is heading the Law and Order wing at the Secretariat Colony police station, when DT Next contacted her.

She was in the news recently when she overpowered a knife-wielding anti-social who tried to attack her during a night patrol in her jurisdiction.

Apart from this, 35 women officers are posted in All Women Police Stations across the city. “Another 50 women inspectors are working in other special units as well,” an officer said.

If one were to look at the development from the administrative side, the availability of women inspectors has gone up in recent times particularly after a good number of women sub-inspectors recruited in the year 2004 were promoted as inspectors.