453 Recruits, Including 209 Women, Join Ladakh Police in First Passing Out Parade at Stongsar

SRINAGAR: In a landmark moment for Ladakh Police, 453 new recruits, including 209 women constables, were formally inducted into the force during the first-ever Passing Out Parade held at the Police Training Centre, Stongsar.

The event marked a major milestone for India’s youngest police force, which has rapidly evolved since Ladakh became a Union Territory. The new constables represent the first batch to be fully trained within Ladakh, following the establishment of the Police Training Centre in 2022.

Director General of Police, Dr SD Singh Jamwal, said the Stongsar centre, among the highest-altitude police training facilities in the country, symbolises Ladakh’s growing self-reliance in policing and capacity-building. Earlier, Ladakh’s recruits underwent training in Jammu and Kashmir. He also announced plans to develop a Winter Sports Centre at Stongsar to promote youth engagement and sporting talent.

During the parade, recruit constables Sonam Yangchan, Jigmet Palkit, and Mohd Sharif were felicitated for all-round, outdoor, and marksmanship excellence, respectively.

Lieutenant Governor Kavinder Gupta, who took the salute and addressed the passing-out constables, said Ladakh Police had demonstrated remarkable progress in a short span despite facing difficult terrain and infrastructure challenges. He said the administration had prioritised modernisation, infrastructure, welfare, and women’s participation to make the force more inclusive and effective.

Calling the induction of over 200 women constables a “powerful symbol of gender equality”, the Lieutenant Governor said it would make the Ladakh Police more empathetic and representative. He urged the recruits to uphold integrity and compassion in public service and announced that recruitment for Sub-Inspectors would begin soon to further strengthen the force.

The Lieutenant Governor also paid tribute to Ladakh Police personnel who laid down their lives in the line of duty and congratulated all new constables and their families for their achievement.

The ceremony concluded with Principal Altaf Shah administering the police pledge to the recruits, marking the beginning of a new chapter for Ladakh’s growing security and law enforcement framework.