Inspector Arti Sharma is not just another Delhi Police officer. She was the first woman to lead a police team to nab a criminal wanted for murder in the National Capital on Wednesday night.
A 1989-batch officer, Sharma has been posted at the Crime Branch’s Special Investigation Team since September 2010. She is in-charge of the crime against women, eve-teasing, stalking and obscene calls cells.
She has participated in various operations of the Crime Branch, but got a chance to lead a team for the first time on Wednesday.
She has one piece of advice for women: Don’t be scared and face life with determination and courage. “Women are not weak. They can do everything if they have the confidence in themselves,” she added.
During the operation on Wednesday night, the history-sheeter, Arvind Sharma alias Pushkar, tried to evade arrest and opened fire on Sharma’s team, leaving Head Constable Shyam lal injured with a gunshot wound.
Senior police officers have praised Sharma for her daring act. “This is the first time in the history of Delhi Police that a team led by a woman police officer nabbed a wanted criminal who was involved in many serious crimes,” Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Ravindra Yadav said.
Yadav said that the injured lal had information that Arvind Sharma was to collect money from someone. Acting on the tip-off, Sharma and eight policemen laid a trap at Janakpuri at 9.30 pm. “Pushkar came in a black Santro car. The team immediately surrounded his vehicle but he opened fire twice to evade arrest. lal received a bullet injury on his hand. He is still in hospital,” Yadav added.