LEADING THE CHARGE

Bulandshahr's assistant superintendent of police is ensuring gender equity in policing duties to make the force efficient and people-friendly

- PRASHANT SRIVASTAVA

ANUKRITI SHARMA Assistant SP, Bulandshahr

Women cops on bikes? In Bulandshahr, Uttar Pradesh? Incredulous as it may sound, 'bikewali police didis' are now a common enough sight in this small town of western UP. Women police officers here ride what are locally called 'phantom' bikes, or vehicles that have been modified for policing needs, complete with a hooter, police lights, PA system and more. And it's all thanks to 36-year-old Anukriti Sharma, an IPS officer of the 2020 batch, who is the current Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the city. Anukriti has taken it upon herself to make the police a more efficient and citizen-friendly force. And the first step towards achieving it, she feels, is by empowering the women officers in the force.