Kerala police add women power to man the streets of TVPM

Thiruvananthapuram: Members of Kerala police's first all-woman battalion have been put in charge of security in the state capital. The 182-woman team in an attractive khaki-and-blue uniform is part of the 578-member battalion passed out on July 31.

The city police would depute 30 members each from the group in front of the state secretariat in the morning and near the Technopark in the evening. The group is under the direct supervision of the headquarters at Menamkulam.

The all-woman battalion is expected to improve women's safety in Kerala. The battalion's formation followed a cabinet meeting in January 2017. The training started in September. The government has also allotted land for the headquarters at Menamkulam.

As many as 44 members of the new battalion have been sent for commando training. The rest of the battalion has been deputed to Thiruvananthapuram, Adoor, Palakkad, and Kannur. They have received training in disaster management, kalari, yoga, karate, swimming, and information technology.

They are specially trained to deal with the problems of children, women, and transgenders.