Trained by cops, schoolgirls display their combat skills
NEW DELHI: Arti is now more confident in walking home from her school. She knows she can tackle any miscreants or rowdies, after having attended combat defence training class effectively conducted by the Delhi Police at her school.
Arti is one among 20,000 school girls, who have received martial arts training across Delhi by police as part of their efforts to empower girls with initial level resistance against eve-teasers.
More than 1,200 girls from various schools and colleges in West Delhi participated in the programme ‘Sashakti’ at Hari Nagar on Monday, displaying various self-defence techniques. Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik, who attended the programme, emphasised on self-empowerment of women.
Anita Goswami, a Karate black belt instructor who accompanied Delhi Police teams to various schools, says she is overwhelmed by the response. “We teach the school girls combat techniques and how to strike vital parts of the attacker in case she is stalked or teased. Our target is to effectively train 100 girls in every school, who could pass on the skills to their classmates,” said Goswami.
The event was telecast live in several cable TV channels across Delhi. The participants displayed their martial art skills by breaking bricks and displaying effective techniques to subdue any attacker.
“The girls have also been given knowledge of where to hit in case the stalker is heavily built. The knowledge about vital points on the human body enables the girls to attack effectively and get time to call for help or escape,” said Vijay Kumar, DCP West.