Cops on toes to provide free service to women at night

Ajay Joshi

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, December 4

Amid the mounting public outrage against incidents of rape and violence against women in the country, the announcement made by Capt Amarinder Singh to provide free home drop service for women at night in the state was welcomed by women and social activists in the city.

Following the Chief Minister’s announcement, directions regarding the same have also been communicated to the police chief to make apt arrangements in all districts of the state. The city Police Commissionerate and the rural police have also confirmed their preparedness and claimed that the service would be exercised from tonight. The statewide facility is available for women who are stranded outside between 9 pm to 6 am. On dialling helpline numbers 100, 112 and 181, any woman seeking help will be connected immediately to the police control room.

Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Commissioner of Police (CP), said: “He has especially deployed 14 teams of Women Armed Special Protection Squads (WASPS) that will be available on call between 9 pm to 6 am to ensure safety and security of women in the city. To curb the shortage of vehicles during any emergency situation, verified taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers had also been roped in to drop women free of cost in the night hours. Besides, the police have been directed to accord top security for the safety of women.”

After chairing a meeting with officers and other stakeholders in the city, master trainers have been deputed in several educational institutes so that problems occurring due to technical glitches could be averted. In addition, DCP Gurmeet Singh and ADCP D Sudarvizhi will be supervising the free drop service in the city.

Considering the security of women in the rural belt, the district rural police have formed various teams to keep vigil up in night hours.

SP (Headquarters) Ravinder Pal Singh, who has been appointed as the nodal officer for smooth implementation of the service in villages, said: “Four teams, comprising a lady inspector and four other police personnel each, would be deployed for the free drop service. Besides, SHOs and ground duty officers would remain alert in any emergency situation.

Women who are relieved after the CM’s initiative include journalists and women working in hospitals, call centres, travel and tour and marketing jobs.

Stringent security need of the hour

With around 38 rape incidents and 43 cases related to eve-teasing and molestation reported in the city this year, women definitely need stringent security arrangements.