Charu Sinha first woman to head CRPF in militancy-hit Srinagar

Jammu/New Delhi, September 1

IPS officer Charu Sinha has become the first woman commander to head the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) formation in militancy-affected Srinagar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Tuesday. 

Appointed Inspector General (IG), she says it will be inappropriate to comment about her posting, insisting, “As always, I am looking forward to my new assignment.” Under her leadership, claims a senior CRPF official, various anti-Naxals operations were carried out in the two states. She was subsequently moved to sensitive Jammu sector as IG where she spent a successful tenure.

Constituted in 2005, the Srinagar sector comprises Budgam, Ganderbal and Srinagar districts and Ladakh UT. The CRPF works in tandem with the Army and the J&K Police during anti-terror operations.

The current CRPF Director-General, AP Maheshwari, was the first IG to head the sector, which includes two ranges, 22 executive units and three Mahila companies.

A few years ago, Sonali Mishra, IPS officer of the 1993-batch Madhya Pradesh cadre, had served as the IG of another paramilitary force, the Border Security Force, in Kashmir. — TNS