Sangita Shinde Alphonso is a well known figure in the satellite city. Whether as Inspector with Vashi police station’s administration department or now as Senior police inspector of Nerul police station, Sangita has earned praises not only from her colleagues and senior police officials but from the residents alike and has been lauded for her commendable work and outstanding performance.

Alphonso joined Maharashtra police as sub-inspector in 1989 and worked with various police stations in Mumbai for 18 years, before she was transferred to Pune in 2006. She was inspector with the special branch and then with the cyber cell of Pune police till May, 2013, when she was transferred to Navi Mumbai. She received as many as 30 rewards from her seniors in the satellite city during her tenure as Inspector of Vashi station.

“My tenure in Vashi was full of excitement. I detected many cases when I was posted there including a major robbery in Vashi village and a murder of a senior citizen by her husband. We arrested many burglars and chain snatchers as well. I also organised a seminar with the title ‘women and crime’, with the objective of empowering women. At Nerul police station I continue with similar activities for the betterment of women in general and society at large. My appointment here has given me an opportunity to rein in the criminals, especially prevent crime against women. It has also encouraged women to come forward and lodge complaint without hesitation,” she said.

Sangita has an LLB degree and has also pursued MBA. She was one amongst the thirteen police officers to had been selected from all over the state to undergo a special training in cyber crime in US academy. “We have released a DVD for the police personnel where they are educated about the use of internet for investigating cyber crime cases,” she informed. She had handled a major piracy case of plasma technology while at Pune cyber crime cell.

Recollecting her childhood, Sangita says, “While the children of my age group desired to become either a doctor or engineer, I desired to join police force. I always adored the Khaki and wished to serve citizens. It was all the more surprising for my parents as no one from my family has taken up police force. Nevertheless, I was determined to join the police and today they are extremely proud me”.

Sangita is also known for her humanitarian gestures. In November, 2014 when she went to visit ‘Ashray’, an old age home for official work, she saw a group of volunteer teachers conducting classes on roads. She was so overwhelmed to see their dedication that she immediately the conference hall of the Nerul police station to them to conduct classes. At present, around 60 students from the city’s slums are attending the classes.

“It is really heartening to see the kids excel in their studies. Around 10 students from the school appeared for the SSC exams this year. To our satisfaction, nine of them cleared the exams. Eight students secured above 60%,” happily remarked Sangita.

“We are utterly grateful to Sangita maam for providing us the space for conducting classes. Maam takes personal interest in the academic performance of every child. Kids just adore her. Had these kids not been shown the right path of life, many of them would have probably got into petty crimes like theft, pick-pocketing and chain snatching. We are happy that they are getting a good education through this school, and are far away from criminal activities,” said Mousumi Mahapatra, one of the teachers with the school.