`Bold and brave’: Forget US, Hyderabad police launch SWAT to deal with women's issues

Hyderabad: Hyderabad Police have set up a dedicated squad of 35 women constables to better manage public protests involving women and ensure respectful handling during arrests.

The all-women team will be responsible for arresting female participants during dharnas, rallies, and other demonstrations across the city. This team has been officially named the Swift Women Action Team (SWAT).

Police Commissioner CV Anand highlighted that protests are frequent in Hyderabad, and arresting women during such events has often posed operational and legal challenges. “Having a trained team of women officers will help us carry out arrests professionally while respecting the rights and dignity of women protesters,” he said.

Addressing operational challenges

Hyderabad has witnessed an increase in public demonstrations involving large numbers of women in recent years. However, law enforcement agencies have faced difficulties managing female protesters due to a shortage of women officers trained in crowd control and legal procedures. Often, this has resulted in delays or concerns over the propriety of arrests.

The newly formed women’s arrest squad aims to fill this gap, ensuring that female detainees are handled sensitively and in line with legal standards, he added.

Specialized Training and Deployment

The 35 women constables have undergone specialized training focusing on crowd management, gender-sensitive policing, and the legal rights of detainees. They will be deployed during major protests, politically sensitive gatherings, and other events where large female participation is expected.

This initiative builds on earlier Hyderabad Police efforts such as SHE Teams—dedicated to combating crimes against women—and Bharosa Centres, which provide support to women in distress. It also aligns with the police department’s broader goal of increasing women’s representation and leadership within the force.

SWAT member P Pooja impresses with bike stunt performance

During a demonstration, SWAT member P Pooja amazed everyone with her bike stunt. Trainers placed a wooden plank on her stomach, and a two-wheeler was ridden over it. Pooja stated that she had not done any special practice for this stunt and participated in the event after just one demo. Pooja is a national-level volleyball player. She recently took part in the state-level police sports meet, where she won a gold medal in volleyball and a bronze medal in arm wrestling.

Training given on handling women protesters wearing different attire

Special training was provided on how to handle women protesters wearing different types of clothing — sarees, salwar kameez, jeans, and others. Officers were trained specifically on how to take such individuals into custody without causing harm or discomfort. “We also learned how to lift groups of protesters gathered in one place using techniques like the 'solar lock' and 'promise lock,” said another SWAT member, J Uma.

Martial arts training

As part of the SWAT training, along with gym workouts, two types of martial arts were taught. In Karate, trainees were taught katas, punches, self-defense techniques, and kicks. In Krav Maga, they were given awareness on real fights, seven key movements, and techniques to bring down an opponent,” said SWAT member T Shilpa Vardhan.