Superintendent of Police Nisha James flagged off the Abbakka Rani Force at Chandu Maidan in Udupi on Tuesday.
The Force, launched on the occasion of Police Flag Day, would look into the safety of women and schoolchildren, said the officer.
“The Force will also deal with eve-teasing. The all-women patrol will be working in the jurisdiction of the Udupi City Municipal Council. The areas covered by the Force are the service, town and KSRTC bus stops, schools and colleges, railway station and shopping malls, among other areas in Udupi town.
Nisha James also recalled experiences when she worked as a probationary officer at Sagar in Chitradurga district and said that there was a Obavva Pade exclusively for women.
Regular beats
She added that the team will conduct regular beats on the streets and the cases would be dealt on the spot by the squad members. “The all-women team will patron the streets in disguise to nab the culprits red-handed and arrest them under the Karnataka Police Act 1963,” she explained.
She urged women to avail of the benefits of the patrolling team and immediately bring any issues of harassment to their notice. “The main intention of the launch of the patrolling team is to ensure a safer environment for women in town,” she reminded.
“Illegal incidents against women that are reported in town can be registered at the police control room on phone number 100 or women police station on phone numbers 0820-2525599, 0820-252644,” the superintendent informed.
Earlier, retired PSI Gopalakrishna Ganiga was felicitated on the occasion of the Police Flag Day.
‘Be people-friendly’
Speaking after receiving the Guard of Honour, Ganiga said that the secret behind effective maintenance of law and order in the society is essentially a better relationship between the police and the public. He urged the police personnel to be people-friendly and be sensible while discharging their duties. He stressed that sensitive cases should be handled with care.
Ganiga also urged the superintendent to increase the benefits of the Arogya Bhagya health insurance percentage from 12 to 50.
A sum of Rs 3,13,714 as medical aid was handed over to 70 retired police personnel.