The Real SUPERSHERO “Seema Dhaka”

Sunny is a Journalism & Mass Communication graduate from Delhi. Currently pursuing a PG Diploma in PR, Media and Event Management from New Delhi YMCA, he loves to write, post food pictures on his food IG blog and sometimes sing very terribly. But where he scores brownie points are helping poor people, being a “human” panda, and following the best writers on Instagram.   

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The Real SUPERSHERO – Seema Dhaka

– Sunny Moudgil

A mother on her own,  a head constable with the Delhi Police rescued many children from various parts of India, thus saving fellow mothers from the agony of losing their children forever. What makes her achievement special is that she did a record tracing in just three months, earning her an out-of-turn promotion from Head Constable to Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI). Her husband, a Head Constable himself, and her family support her as she continues her rescue work.

Seema Dhaka, a head constable with the Delhi Police, recently became the first police officer to be given an out-of-turn promotion for her rigorous and unending work of tracing children in a short span of time. Dhaka, now an Assistant Sub-Inspector, was rewarded for tracing a record 56 children below the age of fourteen in just three months as against the compulsory 50 in a year and united with their families.

In total, she has saved 76 minors, out of which 56 are below the age of 14 and 20 are in the age bracket of 14 to 16. Dhaka, aged 33, was felicitated by Delhi Police commissioner SN Shrivastava on Wednesday for her act of bravery. The police chief, on August 7th, had announced additional incentives that includes out-of-turn promotion, for any constable who would rescue 50 or more missing children below the age of 14 within a year. 

Also, an Asadharan Karya Puraskar was announced for any constable or head constable who would save 15 or more missing children below the age of 14 years – including five lower than eight years – within a year.  

Seema Dhaka had her most challenging case in West Bengal, from where she had to save a seven-year-old who went missing for five years from his home in Aman Vihar, near Rohini. She had to reach the child in a flood-hit area by crossing two rivers, with the assistance of the state police. She says that it was difficult to reach him, for the area was vast, having 134 police stations. After finding the child, she took him to a hotel, fed him food and made him watch TV, after which he shared his ordeal of how he left his home as his stepfather rejected him and would often beat him up.

Dhaka, a graduate hailing from UP’s Baghpat, feels lucky to have a husband and family that supports her. And her husband is a head constable posted in Rohini. She joined the force way back in 2006, and after giving exams five years later on, she became a Head Constable. Now promoted as Assistant Sub-Inspector, she laughs about her getting a higher rank than her husband, and her relatives joking about the same. 

After her promotion, she was stationed in the South East and remained there till 2012, was transferred to Outer District in 2012 and then to Rohini, and later on to Samaypur Badli police station in Outer North area. 

Seema Dhaka’s selfless continuous service has acted as a catalyst in the making of women and children friendly India. She is continuing her journey of rescuing children and uniting them with their families. Her dedication towards the safety of children should inspire all of us to help people in distress. 

The views expressed are those of the writer.