Women turn out in large numbers for police recruitment drive in J-K

Poonch (Jammu and Kashmir), Mar 9 (ANI): Casting off their veils and defying social typecasts, women turned out in large numbers for a police recruitment drive here.

The drive was conducted to recruit personnel for the Indian Reserve Police (IRP) battalion.

These young women want to serve the country just like men.

"We want to serve the country. Like a soldier fights for his country and lays down his life we also want to do the same for our country," said Fauzia, a candidate.

Police officials at the recruitment camp expressed happiness at the large turnout and hoped it will help in solving the unemployment problem to some extent in the region.

The fitness level of these youngsters also makes them an ideal choice for the police.

So far, 5,000 youths both men and women have turned up for this recruitment drive.

"Traditionally the people of this range have shown inclination in joining police forces and army and so we have organised this recruitment drive. Being from hilly region, they are physically very fit. They have been serving the nation for past many years. Being a border district it is quite good that so many people have turned out to serve the country," said S. D. S. Dadwal, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Poonch.

With so many people from border areas turning up for police forces, the officials are hopeful it will help in further curbing militancy in the region. (ANI)