Mangaluru : Three personnel of the all-woman city police force ‘Rani Abbakka Pade’ wearing black T-shirts and army trousers entered a city bus coming from Pilikula.
Women and other commuters had complained against the conductor for not issuing ticket and collecting excess fare.
The personnel recorded the complaints on video and forwarded the same to the jurisdictional police station, which seized the bus and later released it after collecting a fine.
Personnel of the force are conducting regular patrols on the short-cut to Central Market from Nehru Maidan and at the Lady Goschen Hospital bus-stop to keep a check on people harassing women.
These are among the instances of the work of the personnel of the force since its launch by Police Commissioner Sandeep Patil on April 30.
Apart from acting on instances of stalking and chain-snatching, the personnel have also been tasked with patrolling in public places, namely malls, colleges, beaches and public buses.
This force, comprising 50 women police constables, are operating in areas under the police stations they work in.
Personnel from Mangaluru East police station patrol Kadri Park and surrounding areas, while those from Ullal police station patrol Ullal and Someshwar beaches. This duty is in addition to the work allotted at the police station. “Before the formation of the force, I had a meeting with the women police constables. They appreciated the new initiative and voluntarily came forward to be part of the force,” Mr. Patil told.
He initiated the idea on April 24 and the force became a reality six days later. A similar all-woman force is in operation in Bengaluru, Belgavi, and Udupi
Mr. Patil said the force’s personnel are the first responders to cases relating to women safety.
“I am personally monitoring the work of the force on a daily basis. I am happy to see the way these personnel are being received by the people,” he added.