KOCHI: Taking a cue from the 'Pink Patrol' and 'Pink Beat' launched in Thiruvananthapuram city exclusively to ensure women's safety, the Kochi City police has set up 'Pink Shadow,' a woman squad under the special branch. According to the officers, the initiative is an initial step to make Kochi a woman-friendly city.
The 'Pink Shadow' will function under the aegis of the Shadow Police who are a team of cops in mafti dresses. The team is headed by an SI, deputed to detect serious crimes and arrest drug pedallers in the city. The Pink Shadow will provide their services at railway stations, bus stands, shopping malls and market premises, where women frequently visit in the city.
The 'Pink Shadow' team will initially start with four women officers headed by a woman SI Saleena Beevi. The squad members will be imparted training in martial arts and driving. The team has been constituted in order to address the atrocities against women and also to bring down criminal activities of women in the city,“ said city police commissioner M P Dinesh. The rest of the team of women officers will be selected after assessing their aptitude in various categories. Police officials hope to appoint a total of ten women to the force.
The members of Pink Shadow will have separate ID cards. Public can avail the services of the women shadow officers round the clock via WhatsApp or mobile phone number 7559899100. According to the officers, the details including name and mobile phone number of the informer will be kept confidential. "The public should save this number on their mobile phones as they can call for assistance in case of any emergency," added City Police Commissioner. The special squad will also take steps to ensure safety for school and college going girl students.
According to the officers, the City Shadow Police Wing, comprising 19 civil police officers, has scripted a success story by taking stringent actions against drug abusers, fake recruitment agencies and quotation gangs. The ‘Pink Beat' launched in Thiruvananthapuram has received overwhelming public response so far.