Pink City gets first woman police patrol unit
We won’t let those who harass women get away.
It was not the usual sight one gets to see on a busy Monday morning at the Jaipur police commissionerate.
A group of over 50 women constables, seated on swanky twowheelers, were getting ready to ride into the Pink City.
“We won’t let those who harass women get away. For the last few months, we have been trained to deal with such situations,” says 25-year-old constable Neelam Choudhary.
As she speaks, Choudhary’s one hand casually rests on the baton strapped to her belt.
Jaipur on Monday got its first woman police patrol unit — a group of 52 women constables, who will patrol various spots of the city on 26 two wheelers to curb cases of sexual harassment.
“I didn’t know how to ride a two-wheeler but learnt it during the training. We have also been given lessons in martial arts, yoga, horse riding and other modes of combat,” said Sohan Kanwar, another member of the unit. Each two-wheeler will have two cops.
The vehicles, which have been donated by Hero Motocorps Ltd, come with a large array of facilities, including inbuilt mobile chargers in their carriers. Apart from it, the women have also been equipped with first aid boxes, batons, wireless systems and flashlights.
“The primary focus of this patrolling unit will be to effectively address the grievances of women in the city. We have identified several places with the varying magnitude of importance where these women will be deployed,” said Jaipur commissioner of police Sanjay Agarwal.
Agarwal expressed confidence in the fact that the patrolling unit will bring down cases of sexual harassment in the city.
“The purpose of all this unit is to put women at ease which will make them more forthcoming and less hesitant in approaching the police if they face any problem,” said Agarwal.
Earlier, Udaipur had become the first city in Rajasthan to launch an all women patrolling unit in October last year.