Rousing welcome for BSF’s woman officer

Tanushree Pareek, a resident of Rajasthan’s Bikaner who became the first woman combat officer to be commissioned by the Border Security Force (BSF) in its 51-year history, was on Sunday accorded a rousing welcome.

Hundreds of people in Bikaner thronged the streets to have a glimpse of Pareek, who was taken around the city in a procession on an open jeep from her alma matter Lady Elgin School as the crowds cheered her while residents stood in queque outside her house to congratulate her and felicitate her with garlands and bouquets.

Pareek graduated in Bachelor of Technology in electronics and communications from the Bikaner Government Engineering College, and her masters in rural development from IGNOU.

Pareek (25), who led the passing out parade of 67 trainee officers at Gwalior on Saturday that was reviewed by Union home minister Rajnath Singh at the BSF camp, said: “I was informed just 15 days before the passing out parade that I was going to lead it.”

“I was so excited that I prepared myself for the parade with double zeal. I think now it is the time for girls to actively participate in tough tasks,” she told Hindustan Times

The Union home minister himself put the rank stars on the shoulders of Pareek during the piping ceremony.

In 2013, the BSF allowed women to apply for operation duty and after a four-phase recruitment process, in July 2014, Pareek became the first woman assistant commandant in the border sentinel.

As the first women BSF officer in the entry rank of assistant commandant, Pareek will be posted to command a unit of the 105th Battalion along the IndoPak border in Firojpur, Punjab.

I was so excited that I prepared myself for parade with double zeal. It is the time for girls to participate in tough tasks