Pramesh S Jain
I
n the wake of series of incidents including the rape of a 21-year-old student who was involved in the road accident minutes before the incident,the traffic police department has decided to rope in women police force in night duties to assist their male counterparts to deal with special drivers and traffic violations involving women.
MN Anucheth,Joint Commissioner of police,traffic, issued a order on Wednesday directing,the station in charge to deploy two women personnel of the rank of head constable and constables at every station compulsorily to assist the male counterparts in cases related to violations or violence involving women at night time .
“There was a need as part of the SOP for enhancing and ensuring safety of women and responding to women who are in distress hence the decision to deploy women personnel in night duty“,he said .
The decision also helps the traffic police who have relaunching special drives on drunk drives which have to be taken at the jurisdiction level every weekend from Thursday to Sunday .
So far the traffic police on special drive had to seek the help of women officers to come to the spot or seek the help of neighbouring station law and order station for women personnel while dealing with drunken driving and traffic violations involving women.
This would have delayed the process further and now with this decision the women police personnel will be readily available at the station to address any eventualities related to women,a senior officer,said .
The city has 50 traffic police stations and 20 per cent of the work force comprising of women staff.Though there were enough staff available the decision is unpopular among the women staff, another police officer, added .
It may be recalled that the incident of rape reported in HSR layout who involved in accident minutes before she was assaulted could have been handled better if there were women police personnel on night rounds.
