The Siliguri Metropolitan Police (SMP) has launched Baghini, a unique initiative to train girls aged 17 years and above in self-defence and legal awareness and make them familiar with police units and activities.

The SMP teamed up with the north Bengal chapter of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) for this initiative, which literally means tigress, to empower women and combat crimes against women.

On Saturday, the initiative was launched in presence of Gaurav Sharma, the commissioner of police, Nishant Mittal, chairman of the NB chapter of the ICC, table tennis player and Arjuna awardee Mantu Ghosh and other senior police officers at the SMP grounds of Siliguri’s Mallaguri.

“During the two-day training, participants will be trained in yoga, martial arts, physical training, mental health, nutrition, cyber laws, laws and privileges related to women, anti-human trafficking initiatives and social media threats. They will also pay visits to police stations, women’s police stations, traffic guard and control rooms to get familiar with police activities,” said a senior police officer.

The first batch has 100 girls from across the city. Another batch will be trained on December 18 and 19.

“Participants from educational institutions and social organisations are attending the event. We thank the support provided by the ICC,” said Sharma, the SMP chief who conceptualised the initiative.

Mittal, the ICC NB chapter chairman, said the initiative will continue in the coming days. “We will continue to carry out various CSR activities. In the coming months, more such batches would be trained under the Baghini project. We appreciate the initiative taken by police here for women’s empowerment.”

“We want every woman to learn self-defence techniques. It will help boost their confidence and curb crimes against women,” a police officer said.

Participants sounded enthusiastic.

“I hope we learn how to defend ourselves and know about our rights and privileges. It is also important to know how the police function,” said Jaya Kundu, a student of Tarai Tarapada Adarsha Vidyalaya in Siliguri and among the trainees of the first batch.

Fellow trainee Supriya Baisnab of Deshbandhupara said she loved the name.

“Some people even today think that we girls are weak. The name Baghini says otherwise. We can act to save ourselves.”