A significant number of members in the all-women marching contingent of the Delhi Police for the Republic Day parade originates from Northeast states.
Reports said that the contingent has a good presence of members from Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram.
Contingent leader Shweta K Sugathan on January 15 highlighted that several of these women had also participated in the 2023 parade. The current contingent, consisting of constables and head constables, marks a historic moment as it is the first time in the history of the Delhi Police that the marching contingent comprises exclusively women personnel, according to officials.
In addition to representatives from Nagaland, Manipur, and Mizoram, the contingent includes Delhi Police personnel from Meghalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam. The women’s pipe band, composed of 135 head constables and constables, will be led by Constable Ruyangunuo Kense.
IPS officer Sugathan, who serves as an additional deputy commissioner of police, emphasized that a majority of the women in their contingent hail from northeastern states, including Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam. She expressed excitement about leading an all-women team this year, contrasting it with her leadership of a men’s contingent in the previous year.
Preparations are in full swing, and the contingent is eager to deliver its best performance on Republic Day, Sugathan stated. The Delhi Police follows a recruitment policy that aims to bridge the gap between the force and people from the eight northeastern states.
With just a few days until Republic Day, the all-women contingent of the Delhi Police, along with other armed forces, is gearing up for the parade on January 26. Sugathan mentioned that the contingent has been preparing for almost six months, and their enthusiasm is at its peak as the day approaches.
Constable Ruchika, a member of the women’s pipe band from Manipur, expressed her excitement and pride in participating in the parade, hoping that their contingent will be recognized as the best.
Special commissioner of police (armed police) Robin Hibu highlighted that the majority of the marching contingent is from the armed unit of the Delhi Police and is from northeastern states.
Constable Sapna expressed that participating in the parade is a historic moment and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for them. She shared her pride in being part of the contingent, marching down the Kartavya Path on Republic Day.
The defence ministry’s directive from the previous year urged all participating forces, state governments, and departments in the Republic Day parade to include women participants in their contingents, bands, and tableaux. The Delhi Police’s marching contingent holds a unique distinction, having participated in every Republic Day parade and being adjudged the best marching contingent 15 times, with the most recent accolade in 2021.
