India TV ‘She’ Conclave: IPS officers Chhaya Sharma and Nupur Prasad on heroism, breaking stereotypes-OxBig News Network

At the India TV ‘She’ Conclave, senior IPS officers Chhaya Sharma and Nupur Prasad delivered compelling accounts of navigating complex challenges in their policing careers. The session, marked by honesty and inspiration, highlighted the challenges and triumphs of breaking stereotypes in a male-dominated profession. Both officers underlined the need for greater participation of women in public life, especially in politics and policymaking, while also calling for a shift in how women are perceived in leadership roles.

‘No gender for work’: Nupur Prasad on rewriting perceptions

Joint Commissioner of Delhi Police, Nupur Prasad, a 2007-batch IPS officer, challenged traditional gender perceptions in the police force. “There’s no gender for work,” she said, urging that women in positions of power must be seen as the norm, not an exception.

She recalled her first posting as Superintendent of Police in West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh, where she was sent to manage violent clashes. Despite being cautioned about the law-and-order situation, she took the charge with confidence. “I assured them I wouldn’t back out. If I needed reinforcements, I’d ask for them — but I won’t complain,” she said. On reaching the district, a local MLA was visibly surprised to see a woman officer. “I told him, ‘Nupur is a female name and I am Nupur Prasad.’ That’s all there was to it,” she said. She managed to stabilise the situation within days, eventually winning over the trust of the community and its leaders.

Prasad highlighted how society often underestimates women officers, especially in the early stages. “There’s always a question mark around whether we can handle tough postings. But fear is all in the mind. My uniform and my training erased any fear that might have been there.”

Chhaya Sharma on taking tough calls and staying the course

Special Commissioner of Delhi Police Chhaya Sharma, a 1999-batch officer, known for her role in solving the Nirbhaya case, reflected on her own experiences of pushing past doubt and judgment. Recounting her 2010 posting as DCP (Outer District, Delhi), she said many senior officers made snide remarks like, “Who asked you to pick up Arjun’s Gandiva?”, a reference to taking on a daunting responsibility. Her predecessor warned her of the high crime rate — 303 snatchings daily, compared to just three in her earlier posting — and even advised her to reconsider the transfer.

Initially disheartened, Sharma confided in her family. Her husband reminded her of her training and accomplishments, motivating her to rise to the challenge. “That’s what empowerment is — the ability to make your own choices, to trust your capability,” she said.

The Nirbhaya case and a turning point for the nation

Sharma spoke about the pressures and responsibilities she faced during the 2012 Nirbhaya case, which triggered a national reckoning on women’s safety and led to significant legal reforms, including improved frameworks for reporting sexual harassment at the workplace. She described the emotional weight of the case, working long hours while having a young child at home. “The emotional connect with the victim’s family, especially when the mother cried and begged for justice, was a moral responsibility I could not afford to fail.”

She also revealed that the Nirbhaya one was a blind case — the accused were unknown, and solving it without compromising on due process was crucial. “We didn’t want to show quick results by arresting the wrong people. That would’ve broken public trust,” she said. The work didn’t end with arrests, Sharma noted. “Unlike in movies, real police work goes far beyond catching the culprits — it involves medical exams, identification parades, airtight chargesheets and legal proceedings. You must build a case that stands up in court.”

A call for leadership and institutional support

Both officers stressed the importance of encouraging more women to step into leadership roles — in policing, politics, and beyond. Sharma said, “We need women not just in uniform, but in every position of influence.” Prasad added that mentorship and visible representation are key. “The more young women see us in these roles, the more they believe they can do it too,” she concluded.