A recipient of several awards, including the President’s Police Medal for distinguished service, this female IPS officer personifies strength and courage. Whether it is tackling the extremist groups or freeing several women & children from trafficking, she never retracted from the task at hand. She is Ms. Violet Baruah, the first female DIG of Assam and First DIG of Bodoland Territorial Area District (BTAD), an autonomous region established in 2003.
With her determination and passion for work, she has set up many milestones and has become inspiration for many. In an interview with Indian Masterminds, the 2004 batch officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre Ms. Baruah share some of her field experiences.
The working is not different
Bodoland Territorial Region is an autonomous region of Assam and consists of four districts. The region is home to Bodo people and other indigenous community of Assam. It is administered by elected body called Bodoland Council, which was established after an agreement in 2003. However, its autonomy was extended by an agreement signed in January 2020 by the Government of India, Government of Assam and National Democratic Front of Bodoland.
Following this peace agreement, Ms. Baruah was appointed on the newly created post of DIG, BTAD. When asked about the difference while working in an autonomous region, she said, “Whether it is managing a district, state or an autonomous region, the roles & responsibilities of police remains the same. Our duty is to ensure peace & harmony among people while maintaining the law & order. However, I cannot deny the challenges. Since, I am the first one to hold this charge there are hiccups in the way.”
Rescuing hundreds of women and children
Ms. Baruah has been part of the police force from 28 years. In all these years, she has taken up charges of many districts in Assam. While most of officers declare insurgency & extremism biggest challenge in this region, Ms. Baruah feels this is not the case. “Tackling Extremism is obviously the biggest task to maintain peace in here. Every now and then we came across with such a case, but in my experience I have found human trafficking the most difficult to crack. Assam shares borders with Bangladesh and Bhutan. So the trafficking is not only inter-state or inter-district but it also exists between the international borders. The people involved in this insane crime have a strong network, which makes it all the more difficult to apprehend them”, said Ms. Baruah.
Value of an unsaid thanks
During her career, Ms Baruah has been able to rescue hundreds of women & children- victims of human trafficking all- from all over country, at places as far off as Haryana & Rajasthan. She considers it her biggest achievement. “When a child is returned safely to her home, that unsaid thank you in the eyes of families has been my motivation in my duty”, she added.
Being the first DIG of Assam, she is looked upon by many. And is the case with most successful and highly people, in whatever field they excel in, her actions speak louder than her words.
