Women police constables take oath under a rain-soaked sky during the passing out parade at the Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur on Monday. A total of 144 women constables completed their training at the academy.

| Photo Credit: K.K. NAJEEB

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment in the police force through increased recruitment and expanded opportunities.He was addressing the passing out parade of 144 newly trained women police constables at the Kerala Police Academy in Thrissur on Monday. Braving the pouring rain, the women police constables took part in the parade on the academy parade ground.“Preventing violence against women and children remains a top priority for this government,” the CM said. “From the first term of the LDF government, we’ve focused on increasing women’s representation in the force. The formation of the Women Armed Police Battalion in 2017 was a milestone in that journey.” The current batch of women constables is part of this initiative.He noted that in the modern world, police officers engage across all sectors of society, and the nine-month training period is crucial in preparing them for that role. “As science and technology evolve rapidly, it’s essential that new recruits stay updated and keep learning,” he added.The parade commander was P.K. Geethu from Vellayani, Thiruvananthapuram, while U.V. Anooja from Vattiyoorkavu served as Second-in-Command. The Chief Minister presented awards to outstanding cadets from various battalions.The newly inducted batch into the women’s battalion headquartered at Menamkulam includes 40 postgraduates, 2 with MBA degrees, 78 graduates, 13 B.Tech degree holders, 7 B.Ed holders, 3 with higher secondary qualification and one with a diploma.Senior police officials including State Police Chief Shaikh Darvesh Sahib; ADGP of Armed Police Battalions M.R. Ajith Kumar; Women’s Battalion Commandant-in-Charge K.S. Shahansha, and Kerala Police Academy director K. Sethuraman were also present at the ceremony. Published - June 16, 2025 07:32 pm IST