First Maharashtra lady cop Kusum Dev no more

The first police officer of Maharashtra, Kusum Dev passed away after a brief illness at the age of 87 in Pune. She is survived by two sons, two daughters, daughters-in law and grandchildren. The final rites were performed at Vaikunth crematorium on Wednesday.

Kusumtai, as she was fondly known, was the first woman to enter the male-dominated police force on November 1, 1949 as a sub-inspector. Known for her discipline, her autobiography ‘Duty First’ recounts how she was often denied promotions as she refused to bend down to the will of her seniors. Her father was a professor of Pali at Fergusson College, while her husband Bhalchandra was also a police officer. She also mentions that despite her sincerity, the department never let the husband and wife be posted in the same city.