New Delhi: The army has for the first time deployed women soldiers for internal security and combat duties near the Line of Control with Pakistan. On deputation from Para Military Force, Assam Rifles, the women platoon has been stationed in the Tangdhar sector of North Kashmir.

Around 30 women soldiers are led by Captain Gursimran Kaur of the Army Service Corps, who herself is a 3^rd generation military officer of her family. Deployed at security checkpoints leading to the LoC, the women soldiers are also being used for crowd control and frisking of woman because there are intelligence inputs of weapons and drugs being smuggled across, an officer said. The 13 lakh strong army has been inducting women in small numbers since the mid 1990s but only as officers.

Women are also not allowed to join the fighting arms of infantry, Armoured Corps.