The Dakshina Kannada District Police on Monday launched an all-women special police team — Rani Abbakka Pade — to deal with issues related to women in the district.
Superintendent of Police B.M. Laxmi Prasad inaugurated the force at B.C. Road in the presence of senior officials including Additional SP Vikram V. Amte and Assistant SP Saidulla Adavath. The Mangaluru city police have already launched a similar force. The special forces are being launched in every district/commissionerate following directions from the Director General and Inspector General of Police.
There will be two teams of six women personnel each for every taluk with the Circle Inspector of Police being the supervising officer. Wearing special uniforms — blue T shirt, Army trousers, commando shoes and caps — the members will patrol assigned areas in vehicles.
Besides creating awareness among girls and women about self-defence, the Rani Abbakka Pade will patrol areas around educational institutions, hostels, and paying guest accommodations of girls. They will also patrol public places, including parks, religious places, markets and tourist spots. They will be present during fairs, processions and protests to ensure safety of women.
SP Prasad said the personnel would also attend to domestic violence cases in their jurisdiction as it would be difficult for women victims to go all the way to the women’s police station at Puttur.
