Telangana is undergoing a quiet yet powerful transformation in its law enforcement landscape, led by an unprecedented rise of women Indian Police Service (IPS) officers in positions of authority. Among the 128 serving IPS officers and three retired officers on special duty, 32 are women—signifying a decisive shift towards gender-balanced leadership and inclusive governance.
For the first time in the state’s history, women IPS officers are not only managing crucial departments under the Home and General Administration wings but are also steering key initiatives in intelligence, vigilance, crime prevention, and public safety. This surge marks a defining moment for gender equity and progressive policing in Telangana.
Women Leading the Core of Telangana’s Police Machinery
Across divisions once perceived as male bastions, Telangana’s women IPS officers are now at the forefront—commanding vital wings such as the Crime Investigation Department (CID), Vigilance and Enforcement, Cyber Security, Women Safety, Prisons, and Intelligence. Their presence underscores a new era of balanced, responsive, and reform-oriented law enforcement.
Charu Sinha: The Trailblazer of CID and CRPF Leadership
A 1996-batch IPS officer, Charu Sinha shattered glass ceilings in 2014 by becoming the first woman to head the Telangana CID. Her trail of firsts continued at the national level, where she became the first woman IPS officer to command CRPF sectors in Bihar, Jammu & Kashmir, and the South Zone.
Back in her home cadre, she now holds multiple strategic portfolios — Chief of CID, Head of Women Safety and SHE Teams, and Director General of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). Her leadership embodies Telangana’s evolving vision of women-led governance in security and justice.
Shikha Goel: Telangana’s Cybercrime Sentinel
From the 1994 batch, Shikha Goel, originally from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, joined Telangana post-bifurcation and has since emerged as one of the foremost experts in cybercrime control. As Additional DGP (Crime) and later CID Chief, she led extensive crackdowns on interstate cyber fraud syndicates, helping victims recover substantial financial losses.
She now serves as Director of the Telangana State Cyber Security Bureau (TGSCSB) and is also the first woman IPS officer to serve as Director General, Vigilance and Enforcement — pioneering digital safety and institutional transparency.
B. Sumathi Reddy: Intelligence Commander Against Extremism
Belonging to the 2006 batch, B. Sumathi Reddy has steadily built a reputation for operational excellence and intelligence acumen. Rising from a Deputy SP to Inspector General, she now leads the Special Intelligence Branch (SIB) — a sensitive post that tracks and counteracts Maoist activity.
Appointed as IG in December 2023, she became India’s first woman IPS officer to head such an intelligence division, bolstering Telangana’s anti-extremism framework and internal security network.
Swati Lakra: Architect of Telangana’s Women Safety Ecosystem
A 1995-batch officer, Swati Lakra is best known as the visionary behind the state’s pioneering “SHE Teams” initiative, which transformed Hyderabad’s women safety model into a state-wide framework.
Now serving as Additional DGP (Organisations and Home Guards) and DG of the Special Protection Force (SPF), she continues to integrate community policing, women empowerment, and safety innovation into mainstream law enforcement.
Abhilasha Bisht: Nurturing the Next Generation of Police Leadership
From the 1994 batch (Jharkhand cadre), Abhilasha Bisht made history as the first woman to head the Telangana State Police Academy since its inception in 1986. Under her guidance, the academy has evolved into a premier centre for modern police training and leadership development.
Her earlier tenure as the head of the Telangana Special Police also showcased her expertise in discipline, capacity-building, and institutional management.
Dr. Soumya Mishra: Humanising Prison Administration
An IPS officer of the 1994 batch and the first woman from Odisha to join the service, Dr. Soumya Mishra has brought a reformist approach to correctional administration. After serving across key districts like Warangal, where she introduced rehabilitation measures for surrendered extremists, she now serves as the Director General of Prisons, Telangana.
Since assuming charge in December 2023, she has introduced wide-ranging reforms — including new correctional facilities, prisoner welfare programs, and skill training modules to support social reintegration.
Telangana’s Women Officers: A Symbol of Evolving Governance
The growing prominence of women IPS officers in Telangana is more than a milestone in gender representation—it signifies a cultural and institutional shift toward inclusive governance, empathy-led leadership, and citizen-focused policing.
Their leadership across diverse domains—from crime investigation to intelligence, from vigilance to rehabilitation—reflects a modern model of administration built on competence, integrity, and social responsibility.
Together, these women in uniform are not only redefining the face of Telangana Police but are also setting benchmarks for equitable governance and public trust across India.
