Udupi or Manipal may get a women's police station

A proposal to shift Kundapur PS has been sent to govt, says SP

The district police department is seriously contemplating on shifting the exclusive women police station in Kundapur to Udupi or Manipal in the wake of sexual assault of a medical student by a gang.

Superintendent of Police M B Boralingaiah told Deccan Herald that a proposal has been sent to the government requesting for the transfer of the women police station in Kundapur to Udupi or Manipal. "We don’t know how far the request will be approved by the government. There are many technical issues in connection with the shifting of police station and also depends on the government’s perception," he said.

He added that there is no proposal sent from the department to the government requesting for additional women police stations in the district. At a given point, there is a need for two to three women police stations in the district. However, if there is only one women police station in the district, ideally it should be located in the district headquarters. Some people have also appealed to Home Minister during his visit to Manipal recently for extra women police stations. However, the matter should be decided at the government level, he added.

Meanwhile, the department decision to reallocate or transfer the women police station from Kundapur to Udupi or Manipal is not considered fairly from the fraternity of women activists and social workers.

Shyamala Bhandari, an woman activist said the department’s idea is highly condemnable. Crimes and atrocities against women do take place in Kundapur region also. Why should the only available police station be moved, she questions and adds Kundapur women police station covers the area of Kundapur and Byndoor. It covers vast jurisdiction.
Rather, the department should send a proposal for extra two police stations exclusively for women in the district, she said.

There are three taluks in the district. Currently, there is a need for one women police station in Manipal. Manipal will be nearest place for the complainants from Kaup, Hebri, Karkala and Udupi. Besides, the university township has many number of students especially girls from abroad. It is very much needed. The recent gang rape incident justifies the demand. There is also women populace in majority number in the district when compared to men. Based on the women population in the district, there should be at least two police stations exclusively for women. It is not that all women police officers are good enough to listen to the grievances of abused women. Most of the times the complainant is only suspected. Even so, some women police officials of high ranking are patient enough and compassionate towards women. They are far better than their male counterparts, she adds.

Activist writer Vaidehi feels that there should be separate women police station in Manipal rather than shifting the available police station in Kundapur. She says that a woman who is the substance of violence will be able to share freely only with the same gender and not with the opposite gender. The police station should be set up in such way that it should make the victim feel comfortable and help her to develop the bonding rather than fear. A victim will not be in an embarrassing situation while revealing the atrocity committed to her. There should be two to three women police stations in the district, she added.