Begusarai girl’s day out as SHO on Republic Day

PATNA: It was a memorable day for 13-year-old Anjali Kumari on Tuesday, as the country celebrated the 72nd Republic Day, she got the honour of being the station house officer (SHO) for a day at Begusarai’s Balia police station.
An international Taekwondo player, Anjali became the first person in Bihar to get this rare opportunity. This people-connect initiative was the brainchild of the real SHO of Balia Avdhesh Saroj, an IPS officer (probationer).
Anjali, an international Taekwando player and a Class-IX student of a private school in Balia, told TOI over the phone on Wednesday that she will cherish this experience her whole life and thanked the SHO for giving her the opportunity.
“It felt great. I had never imagined that such an opportunity would come to me,” Anjali said, adding she aspires to become an IAS officer.
Saroj said he used to see Anjali practising Taekwondo with others at the Balia block ground every morning while jogging.
“Her practice motivated me. After inquiry, I came to know that Anjali has won competitions even at the international level. And that is when it was decided to invite her to become SHO on the occasion of Republic Day,” Saroj said, adding he is sure that Anjali has a bright future ahead of her.
He said Anjali’s parents well as a few friends were also invited at the police station and an arrangement for dinner was made for them. “She jointly hoisted the national flag with me at the police station on Republic day,” he added.
“My father Manoj Kumar Swarnkar is our coach. My youngest brother Aryan (10) has played a national level championship while another brother Krish (11) has played till state level,” Anjali said, adding during the lockdown she kept practising her moves at home with her two younger brothers.
She said her routine includes waking up at 5 am, practising till 8 am, cycling to school starting from 9 am and returning by 2 pm, attending coaching classes for Maths and science and going to bed by 10 pm.
“I want to become an asset to my country. Though I have represented India in an international championship it was held within the country. I want to represent the nation in a bigger event of Taekwondo somewhere abroad,” Anjali said.
Talking about her day at the police station, Anjali said tried to help one Vikash Kumar, who came to the police station to submit a written complaint about the continuous traffic jam at Bhagatpur road at Balia.
“I asked a sub-inspector Jagriti Kumari to inspect the spot. It was due to encroachment,” Anjali said, recalling some more complaints were also received while she was acting as the SHO for the day.
SHO Saroj said based on action taken by Anjali, they are now taking the necessary action and preparing a report to be submitted to the sub-divisional officer for encroachment removal from the road.
“She was made aware of working of a police station, patrolling system and other responsibilities of police. A station diary entry was made noting that she headed the police station on Tuesday. She looked after all the petitions received on Tuesday,” Saroj said.
Anjali’s father Manoj said she started training for Taekwondo at the age of seven. “She won a gold medal in the 2nd India Open International G-1 Taekwondo championship held at Hyderabad in 2019 beating opponents from Australia, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Nepal,” he said.
The proud father said Anjali has also won medals at the 63rd, 64th and 65th SGFI National School Games Taekwondo U-14 championship. “She has won medals in numerous state and district level Taekwondo championships,” he added.