Rajesh Malik paid tribute to his
late sister, Vandana Malik, IPS (26),
on her martyrdom day, remembering her sacrifice in Imphal on April 8, 1989.
Sharing his thoughts, he wrote, “Today is the martyrdom day of my sister Vandana Malik, I.P.S, 26, who laid down her life at Imphal in 1989. She loved the Manipuri people deeply, as expressed to me in her letters. I am sharing an excerpt from one of her letters with a prayer that peace returns to Manipur.”
Vandana Malik, 26, joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 1987. A native of Faridabad, Haryana, Vandana was allotted Manipur cadre in IPS. After completion of her training at the Police Academy at Hyderabad, Vandana travelled 3000 km to Imphal, the capital of Manipur to join the field training and duty.
Before
joining the IPS in 1987, she served as a faculty at Punjab University. She took
the Civil Services Exam (CSE) and entered into the IPS. Her family members were
not too enthused with her idea of joining the service. Way back in 1986, the
number of women donning the khaki were few and far between and were far less in
the IPS.
At
Imphal, Vandana was posted as SHO, Lamshang Police Station at Imphal. On 8
April 1989, she took her team on a sky-blue police jeep to inspect High School
examination centres for matriculation exam in her jurisdiction.
After
the inspection, the team was returning to the police station. She sat in the
front in the khaki uniform, while the police driver accelerated the old jeep.
The wind was pleasant in the mountain valley. It was 3:0 pm and the team was
yet to take lunch.
While
the party drove towards the police station, an ambush party of the militants
waited for them at the approach Road of Western College, Konthoujam. While they
were 2 km to reach the police station, the militant fired bullets at them.
Vandana
sitting in the front, fired back at the shooters. During the encounter, the
driver lost control of the vehicle. Bullets hit Vandana in her head. She bled
and breathed her last on the spot. Four policemen with her team also received
bullet injuries.
The
militants grabbed the weapons of the police party–a sten gun, a revolver, two
rifles and ammunition, while the police party was on the receiving end.
During
the training at the Police Academy in Hyderabad, Vandana sought no concession
as a lady. She ran cross country, jogged like an enthusiast, led the team in
cultural performances and dramatics.
As
she was posted 1000s miles away from her home, when her friends told her,
“Being posted in Manipur for a woman from Haryana was unfair,” she replied,
“Why should IPS be called an All India Service if everyone gets their home
state?” Vandana decided to go to the place where the motherland wanted her
services.
In
the beginning the identity of the killers was not clear. Police registered an
FIR at Police Station Lamphel against unknown persons. The state government
roped in the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation of the
case. After investigation, CBI identified the killers– five cadres of the
Revolutionary People’s Front (PLA). It filed a charge-sheeted against them.
The
body of brave Vandana came back to her home at Faridabad wrapped in the
tricolours. She was cremated with full honours. Salut Vandana Madame!
~By
Asif Jalal
Courtesy: https://www.datelinedharamshala.com/english/news/6611
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