By Biswanath Dash
BHUBANESWAR: Miss Bijaya Laxmi Devi, D/o Jagannath Prasad Singh, At-Kunjakanta, Near B.B.High School, Dhenkanal was the 1st Women SI in Odisha Police. She joined Odisha Police in January 1962. She was probably only the 3rd woman to become Police Sub-Inspector in India after Shanti Parwani of Mumbai and shakuntal vashisth of Delhi.
She was a sports person and represented State level hurdles event in Patiala. Her father was a doctor. She had 6 brothers and 3 sisters namely Indira Devi, Kamala Devi, Nalini Ranjan Singh, Hari Shankar Singh, Bijaya Laxmi Devi, Debendra Prasad Singh, Narendra Prasad Singh, Surendra Prasad Singh and Rabindra Prasad Singh. Two brothers are alive i.e. Mr. Debendra Prasad Singh and Rabindra Prasad Singh
She did her matriculation from B.B.High School, Dhenkanal and completed IA in Ravenshaw College, Cuttack. She joined in Odisha Police as 1st woman SI on 08.01.1962 at Police Training College, Angul as Cadet Sub Inspector and successfully completed 06 months practical training.
Then she was posted as SI in Cuttack district. Unfortunately because of some illness, she died in December, 1962. Her elder brother Mr. Nalini Ranjan Singh was an employee of Board of Revenue and Debendra Prasad Singh joined Odisha Police and retired as Assistant Commandant in the year 2001. Her younger brother namely Rajendra Prasad Singh was a former member of Odisha Cricket Association.
