India's 'Charlie's Angels'

As dawn breaks over the Indian capital, a group of police women are already hard at work practising their punches, on a mission to rid the city's streets of sexual predators.

Dressed in white karate kimonos, the constables knee and kick their imaginary attackers with aggression, honing their skills in preparation for their debut assignment to protect women and the vulnerable.

Following a string of high-profile attacks that has seen New Delhi branded the rape capital of India, police chiefs decided to form an all-women squad specially trained in martial arts.

"We won't tolerate any bad behaviour," leader Bharti Wadhwa told AFP after an intense two-hour session with her 40-strong team, dubbed Charlie's Angels by their trainers.

"It can start from a simple cat call which then leads to stalking and then rape. We will nip such antics in the bud," said Wadhwa.

After months of such sessions, the women are almost ready. Wearing plain clothes instead of uniforms to blend in, they are set to be deployed at areas where women are thought vulnerable.