Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh with Delhi Police Commissioner BS Bassi during the Raising Day Parade in New Delhi. (Press Trust of India)
Days after Wing Commander Pooja Thakur made national headlines after she became the first lady officer to lead the Guard of Honour inspected by US President Barack Obama, young woman IPS officer Apoorva Gupta did something similar when she led the 68th Raising Day parade of the Delhi Police today.
Ms Gupta, who is posted as Assistant Commissioner of Police in the East district in the national capital got a word of appreciation from Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh who began his speech by congratulating Delhi Police for giving her the command of the parade.
"I am very happy that the parade was led by a woman officer. If you ask me to grade the parade, I would give it 'Excellent' grade," he said.
A senior Delhi Police official said that it was not the first time that a woman officer led the parade. There have been instances in the past.
Meanwhile, another woman officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police Niyati Mittal (32) fainted during the event.
She was standing beside the stage where union Home Minister Rajnath Singh was addressing the gathering.
The woman officer fell with a thud on the ground when the home minister was speaking.
Two women officials rushed to her help and took her away where she was given medical attention.
Delhi Police spokesperson Rajan Bhagat said that can happen to anybody.
"It can happen to anybody if he or she is standing for long hours in the same position as blood circulation gets affected. During training, they are taught practices which can help them avoid such a situation. The officer might have forgotten to do so," he said.
Meanwhile, Police Station Hazrat Nizamuddin won the prize for the Best Police Station for the year.
Inspector Ved Prakash, who is the SHO of the Police Station, was handed over a cash prize of Rs 20,000 by the Home Minister. The second prize was won by Police Station Mangolpuri, for which its Ashok Kumar Sharma was given a cash prize of Rs 15,000.
ASI Nirmal Singh Verma was awarded for being in service for 41 years, eight months and 21 days - the longest period. The parade included marching contingents of all women officers, Delhi Police Band, Bicycle Squad, Dog Squad, Mounted Police, Vajr Vehicle, Bullet-proof vehicles, Bicycle squad, Water Cannon and SWAT.