The Assam Rifles on Wednesday formally inducted its first batch of 100 women soldiers at a ceremony in Nagaland, reported The Telegraph. Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju was present at the ceremony, which was organised to induct 212 new recruits. The women will be attached to various units of the 181-year-old paramilitary force.

The Assam Rifles plans to use the women officers for search operations, frisking and interrogating female accused, and dealing with women protestors during agitations, said Lt Col Rahul Josan, the force's public relations officer. “Relief and rescue operations during communal tension and natural calamities, dealing with women protesters to avoid violation of human rights and projecting a clean image of the force would be the other important tasks of the women personnel,” he said.