In a first, a woman cop will now protect Manmohan

There are many firsts in the era of women empowerment. After the first woman president and first Lok Sabha speaker, the first woman police officer would join the elite Special Protection Group (SPG) that guards the PM.

Binita Thakur, who will celebrate her birthday on June 6, is the first woman IPS officer to be entrusted with the task of guarding the PM and his family for the next few years. Thakur would not personally guard PM and family, but will head the team that guards them. She will join as superintendent of police. 

An elated Thakur said: “I am extremely pleased with the news but am waiting for a formal letter from the seniors.”

The Rajasthan cadre officer of the 1996 batch, who is pursuing a PhD in zoology, has been working with Punjab and Haryana Police to crack down on druglords in north India for the past six years.
Rajasthan Police sources said Thakur and her team had prepared the first comprehensive list of 20 top drug dealers active on Indian borders.

 Apart from drug dealers, Thakur has dealt with dacoits in Rajasthan when she was posted as superintendent of police in Karauli. She was also actively involved in containing the farmers’ agitation when they were up against the Rajasthan government. The officer, who is in her mid-30s, was also posted in Hanumangarh, police headquarters, and Ajmer.