The Police Department has no wherewithal to provide unarmed combative training to all women in the State but a person can kill the attacker if she or he feels a threat to life, said DGP V. Dinesh Reddy on Monday. He was replying to a question posed by a woman employee as to what she can do if someone attacks her, at an interactive session with IT sector employees organised by the Cyberabad police. “Self defence is a right,” he said explaining that the law had that provision. Mr. Reddy directed the Cyberabad police to send decoy parties to catch persons or autorickshaw drivers sexually harassing women on the roads by passing lewd comments.
Passenger safety
Such persons should be caught red-handed and thrashed to ensure that they do not resort to the offence again, he said. Responding to queries raised by women employees of software companies, the DGP said the State police would announce a call centre to which a person can dial before boarding an autorickshaw or a taxi. “The call centre staff would monitor movement of that particular vehicle and ensure safety of passengers,” he said. The project would be launched on the Telugu New Year day, Ugadi. He appealed to the managements of all IT companies to verify antecedents of security personnel and cab drivers before employing them.
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Many expressed the view that public transport facilities to reach homes from offices, especially after 8 p.m., were inadequate. The DGP asked the Cyberabad police officials to coordinate with the RTC authorities so that more buses are run in Cyberabad area during peak hours. He assured the woman employees that the numbers of Quick Response Team of police for IT sector would be conveyed to them so that they can rely on them.