Tripura police introduced a toll free helpline, for women in distress to lodge their complaints, on Saturday to mark International Women's Day. Police officials said the helpline (1091) would be operational round-the-clock and anyone from across the state can dial the number to seek help or alert the police to an incident of violence or an imminent threat.
Records show 51 serious incidents of crimes against women, including 16 cases of rape, registered with different police stations in the past two months in Tripura.
The helpline service would also provide counselling to women, if required. A Bengali-speaking woman officer and another speaking Kokborok (tribal dialect) would be available on the helpline 24/7.
Director General of Police C Balasubramanian formally launched the helpline at Agartala police headquarters. “The officers manning the helpline would alert the concerned police station and initiate follow-up action immediately after receiving the call on a grievance”, he said.
DGP Balasubramanian hoped that the helpline would lessen instances of crimes against women. He claimed the police would be further reinforced with the service, through which women can register their grievances without visiting a police station.
