Women cops with martial skills for ladies' coaches

The Central Industrial Security Force is all set to deploy women staff trained in martial arts at Metro stations to check males travelling in women’s coach. The women personnel will be deployed in plainclothes as well as in uniform.

These personnel will check anti-social elements who intend to offend women’s dignity in any manner. “These female personnel will travel in trains and randomly check the coaches reserved for female commuters to drive out the male commuters who board these coaches despite advisory and repeated announcements,” said CISF spokesperson Hemendra Singh.
The CISF is responsible for providing security on Metro stations. Over 26 lakh commuters travel every day on the Metro network and women form a substantial portion of this ridership.

The CISF has trained two batches of its selected women personnel of Delhi Metro Rail Unit in Filipino martial art “Pekiti Tirsia Kali” to ensure safety of female commuters.

According to the CISF, the training was of seven weeks. “This is a step towards women empowerment which instils a sense of security and enables women to take on any challenge and respond effectively against the opponent,” said Singh.

“The programme was undertaken because there is a need for professional training to respond effectively in a crowded situation as well as during late night hours  for the protection of lady commuters,” he added.

Large numbers of male passengers are driven out daily from the coaches reserved for ladies by the CISF, he said. On an average, 25 to 50 male passengers are penalised every day for Rs 250 each by station controller, Singh added.

“Male commuters found in ladies coaches will be alighted and taken to the station controller of DMRC and fined as per Delhi Metro Rail Act.