2010-09-27 15:12

MUMBAI - India creates its first female police battalion to strengthen the women's position in the force, local media reported on Monday.

The first female police battalion was formed on Sunday as they attended the parade held at a police training center in Jodhpur in the western Indian state of Rajasthan, Press Trust of India reported.

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said it is India's first female police battalion. It would prove a meaning of the milestone in the women's empowerment, and inspire more women to courageously face varied challenges in their lives, according to the report.

Those policewomen have received 36-week training since last November, including the special subjects of commandoes similar to the paramilitary force, so as to become qualified members of the modern police force, said the report.

The female police battalion consists of 480 personnel from various districts of the state, and mainly performs the tasks of safe patrol, anti-terrorism and maintaining order in some important areas.

In recent years, India is striving to greatly improve the women's position in the police force. In January, 2007, India dispatched its first all-female UN peacekeeping force made up of 105 policewomen to Liberia.