Saluting The Trailblazing Ladies! Meet Priyanka Panwar, First Woman SPOT Commando Of Uttar Pradesh

On Friday, Asim Arun, Uttar Pradesh Minister and former IPS officer, shared the inspiring story of a policewoman joining the elite Special Police Operations Team (SPOT) of the Anti-Terrorist Squad in UP.

In a detailed post on X, Asim Arun recalled how he had to modify the entry provisions when Priyanka Panwar expressed interest in joining the SPOT unit, as initially, only male personnel of the UP Police were permitted to participate in the entry process.

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¡ª Asim Arun (@asim_arun) January 25, 2024

SPOT commando Priyanka Panwar's story

"Meet Priyanka Panwar, a commando of the Special Police Operations Team (SPOT) of Uttar Pradesh Police ATS. The story of her becoming a commando is also interesting...," Arun wrote in his post on X.

"When Yogi ji ordered me to form SPOT as ATS chief, names of those interested were sought from all police and PAC... Many male policemen used to come and take the test. It was a difficult test, with only a few able to pass. One day, the inspector of SPOT told me that a girl had also come to appear for the exam. What to do?" his post, roughly translated from Hindi, read.

UP ATS in action| Image by TIL

"I asked him to call this girl. Then, Priyanka appeared in front of me for the first time... She said, 'Sir, I will also become a commando, I am a wrestler.' The girl had enthusiasm and sports fitness. I felt that I had made a big mistake (as) we had not included the provision of women police officers in the applications that we had asked for," Arun said.

"We corrected the mistake and allowed Priyanka to take the test....Priyanka got selected and attended the SPOT training," Asim Arun said.

"Priyanka performed very well, and taking inspiration from her, other girls (also) became part of (the) SPOT team and participated in dangerous operations. And whether it is a matter of risk-taking or efficiency, our daughters are no less than anyone else," Asim Arun said in the concluding part of the post on X.

Why UP ATS formed SPOT

The UP ATS established the Special Police Operations Team (SPOT) in 2017 to gather intelligence and execute anti-terror and anti-naxal operations.

Currently, SPOT has five teams located strategically in various districts of Uttar Pradesh. After undergoing special training, the members of SPOT are equipped with weapons and modern technologies.

Restructuring of Anti-Terrorist Squad in Uttar Pradesh

In 2022, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath unveiled a new security blueprint, which resulted in a significant expansion and restructuring of the state's Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS).

TIL

The initiative encompassed the establishment of women police battalions and the forming of women commando units within the ATS.

As part of the expansion, ATS centres were created across various cities, particularly in areas prone to terrorist activities. The goal was to strengthen security measures and establish Uttar Pradesh as a major industrial and religious hub.

Enhancing local capabilities to tackle security challenges, including counterterrorism and issues related to illegal immigration, was the aim of this initiative.

Additionally, the ATS has been adapting to emerging challenges, including de-radicalisation programs and countering threats from groups like the Rohingyas.

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