GUWAHATI, INDIA – Violet Baruah was promoted to the rank of Inspector General of Assam Police, becoming the first woman to hold this rank. The Indian Police Services (IPS) officer would took charge of her new responsibilities from January 1, 2022. 

The state home department notified of Baruah’s promotion on Monday. She is currently serving as the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police in Kokrajhar district, and is the senior most police woman in the state. In the past, she has served as the superintendent of police in four districts and also in the state wing of the Central Investigation Department (CID). She was awarded the prestigious President’s Medal for Meritorious Service earlier this year.

Baruah confirmed the news on her Twitter account writing, “Promoted to the rank of IGP. Feeling blessed to be the first lady IGP in the state of Assam.” She was also the first woman DIG of the state in February 2019. The 59 year old officer joined Assam Police Services in 1992, and was inducted into IPS in 2005. 

Talking to Press Trust of India about her promotion Baruah was quoted as saying, “I have never said no to any posting or task in my career. Rejecting a job has never been my style of functioning. That is why I was out of Guwahati (where state police headquarters is situated) for most of the period of my service.

When asked about her take on gender empowerment, she told the agency that she wishes for gender mainstreaming to become the norm. “It requires personal initiative also. I personally opted for a field job and I did not face any barrier in that. Nowadays many women have come forward to join the police, but I feel more should come,” she added.