Warangal’s ‘Team Rudrama’ takes charge on the frontline

Hyderabad: Drawing inspiration from Rudrama Devi, the legendary Kakatiya dynasty ruler who shattered gender barriers in a male-dominated era, the Warangal police have raised a women-only police commando unit, Team ‘Rudrama', a women's special police force.The elite unit has been constituted by Warangal police commissioner Sunpreet Singh to handle emergency operations on par with male commando forces. Comprising young and specially trained women personnel, Team Rudrama is prepared for bandobast duties, VIP security, and rapid emergency response.Of the 40 women constables recruited in 2024 and trained under the AR division, 21 were selected for Team Rudrama. The chosen personnel underwent nearly a month of intensive commando-style training on the lines of elite forces such as the Greyhounds. Their training included long-distance running, physical drills, rope climbing, firing practice, and handling sophisticated weapons such as AK-47s, self-loading rifles, and INSAS rifles.Interestingly, the team includes two sisters. "My younger sister, Swarna Bharathi, and I became proficient in weapons handling. We are trained to assemble and strip weapons even while blindfolded, which builds operational confidence in low-visibility situations. We practise firing regularly and undergo physical training every day on par with male police personnel. We want to show that women can protect society just as effectively as men," said Salvi Sushma, an AR constable from Team Rudrama.Another team member, N Bhuvaneshwari, said the specialised training had given her the confidence and strength to perform emergency operations alongside male counterparts. "People often think women cannot handle high-risk duties, but our training proved otherwise. We are physically and mentally prepared to respond to any situation, whether it is riot control, VIP security, or an emergency operation. Wearing this uniform as part of Team Rudrama is a matter of pride," she said.Police officials said the induction of a women's commando unit within the AR division marked a significant step towards gender-inclusive policing. The team will be deployed for special operations, emergency duties, and sensitive law-and-order situations, symbolising a new chapter in women-led policing in the state."These women officers are as quick as a Rapid Action Force. They can reach an emergency spot within 20 minutes. The team includes women with national-level backgrounds in athletics as well as personnel with higher academic qualifications such as engineering, MSc, and MCA," said Vemula Srinivas, additional DCP (Armed Reserve) Warangal commissionerate.