Over 300 women cops to be deployed for safe celebrations

NAVI MUMBAI: In view of the frequent cases of crime against women across the country, the Navi Mumbai police have decided to pay special attention to the safety of women during the New Year celebrations.

Apart from deploying constables near the hotels and other party sites, the police will add more than 300 women constables to keep a close eye on trouble makers on city streets.

The traffic department will also deploy at least two female constables while conducting nakabandis at the major junctions in the city.

“Safety of women will be our first priority during the celebrations. An untoward incident took place near Gateway of India on December 31 a few years ago. Such incidents may take place anywhere. Therefore it is important to take some precautionary measures on the eve of New Year,” said Shahaji Umap, deputy commissioner of police (zone 1). “Apprehending incidents like molestation and inappropriate touching, which are very common at the party sites, we will keep our women constables near the hotels. This apart, the ladies’ patrolling teams will also be on the roads throughout the nights. They will keep a vigil on the public places like bus stops and railway stations,” he added.

The police have also formed anti-eve-teasing squads which will keep all the party sites under surveillance in civil dress.

Maya More, senior police inspector of APMC police station said, “The idea of deploying women traffic constables at the nakabandis will prove beneficial. First of all, this additional manpower will minimise the traffic snarls on the road. Secondly, and more importantly, with more women police on city streets, the female commuters will feel safe and complain to them against eve-teasing and any other problems easily.”