Women (IR) Bn ready to take on new life

Morung Express News
Dimapur | July 20

On July 30, the gates of the Chumukedima Police Complex will open for 623 young girls set to embark on the most challenging task of their lives. Training for the first ever Nagaland Armed Police (IR) Mahila Battalion is ready to begin and a new life awaits the girls. After a tedious process of selection across the state, it all comes down to the girls who will walk through those gates and march out with pride and honour a few years from now.

Training for the Mahila battalion, however, is not going to be a cakewalk. Like all other Indian Reserve Battalions, the Mahila will undergo the same rigorous and tough training to prove their mettle. Meren Jamir, Commandant of the 15 NAP (IR) Mahila Bn., said there will be no variation in the method of physical training for the girls and they will be trained hard like the men. The basic training will include all forms of physical and academic training as per the police training syllabus.

The physical training will consist of drills with arms and without, and other forms of commando training. The girls will be trained to use different weapons ranging from light machine guns (LMG) and slow loading rifles (SLR) to AK-47 – some of these guns can weigh up to 5kgs. The girls will also train in light combat warfare which will involve scaling heights, crawling under barbed wire, and rescue operations. The Commandant said there should be no problem in handling any kind of weapons because the girls have been selected after passing physical standards. They will also learn to assemble weapons. During their course of training, the girls will adhere to a strict and disciplined life and be restricted to the confines of the police complex.

Expressing confidence in the girls, unit commander Meren Jamir said, “We will do well like other forces. They have come with great enthusiasm and determination and I am optimistic the ladies will excel.” He also said it is a privilege and a matter of pride to be commanding the first Mahila Battalion in Nagaland. Currently, 82 havildars are undergoing training at Chumukedima. The total strength of the Mahila unit is 1039.