BANGALORE: The City Police Commissionerate’s women’s helpline number 1091 is providing round-the-clock service from Tuesday as the cases of violence against women are increasing.
According to Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar, this decision is not a reaction to Thursday’s incident in which a girl was kidnapped and raped. “We were working on it,” he added.
“Many people have asked us about why the number could not be reached at night and we decided that perhaps it is time to do so,” Auradkar said.
Earlier, the women’s helpline number was available from 8 am to 8 pm. But the phones were shifted to the control rooms in the commissioner’s office from the Vanita Sahayavani office to make sure that police are available to attend calls throughout the day and night. When distress calls are received, the jurisdictional police are immediately alerted about the calls.
Abhaya vehicles or the beat police immediately rush to the spot, the officials at the control room said. While these efforts are on, for those who do not know about 1091, they may have to be lucky to get through the general helpline number 100. Numerous calls made by reporters to 100 were responded with messages of the phone being engaged.
Of the two numbers provided by the commissioner’s office as helplines for women, 080-22940999 does not work and another number 080-22942222 connects to the Commissioner of Police Control Room.
The Police Department, which is already facing acute staff shortage is under additional pressure at night, especially with the recent extension of nightlife as the city is staying alive all through the night and during festive seasons etc.
Cops on Night Duty
Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Kamal Panth said about 800- 1,400 men are on the streets at night.
“While the new recruits are being trained, it will take them at least a year to be ready. Every year, about 500-600 men retire, which will add to the shortage in staff. In a few years, despite the new recruitments, it may be difficult for us to even put these many men on the streets,” he said.
The government had earlier said that 2,000 Home Guards would be deployed for duty along with the police. Auradkar claimed that he is unable to get even half of this strength.
“There is no alternative to trained staff’s strength,” he said.
‘It’s not a Reaction to friday’s incident’
According to Police Commissioner Raghavendra Auradkar, the decision make women’s helpline a round-the-clock service is not a reaction to Thursday’s incident in which a girl was kidnapped and raped. “We were working on it,” Auradkar added.