Meet the alpha-female Police force of India

Girl power: India's women cops start taking a tough stand

All-female police units are shaking up the male-dominated force in conservative northwest India, hitting the streets to combat sex crimes and a pervasive culture of silence around rape.

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AFP

The Jaipur squad!

One such squad in Jaipur has been patrolling bus stops, colleges and parks where women are vulnerable to sexual harassment, which can be anything from lewd jokes and strangers following them to "Eve teasing" and eventually physical attacks and rape.

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AFP

A loud & clear message

India's police force is overwhelmingly male where women make up just 7% of officers with activists complaining of victims being judged by their appearance or even blamed for provoking the crime. These iron-willed women cadre's message is simple yet strong-to have zero tolerance towards crimes against women.

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Reuters

Bringing in more encouragement

India has a gruesome record on sex crimes, with nearly 40,000 rapes reported every year. The shame attached to rape in India's deeply patriarchal society means many sex crimes are not reported and offenders go unpunished.

These lady officers hopes the visible presence of female officers on the beat will encourage more women to report their abusers, knowing they will find a sympathetic ear.

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indiatoday

Strong inside and out

At a park in Jaipur, constable Saroj Chodhuary dismounted from her scooter and approached a group of sari-clad women to introduce herself.

"You can just make a call or even message on WhatsApp and we will be right there, the women too, appear impressed by the authority of Chodhuary and her colleagues who are trained in martial arts and spent months learning the law.

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AFP

Delhi still the rape capital?

India faced international scrutiny over levels of violence against women following the fatal 'Nirbhaya' gang-rape case in December 2012.

aws to punish sex offenders were strengthened in the aftermath, but attacks are still rampant.

In the capital New Delhi alone there were 2,199 rape cases in 2015 -- an average of more than six a day which is one of the highest in the country.

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AFP

India fails to keep up global standards

Compared to international figures, the number of female officers in India's police force still remains shockingly low, despite being ordered to recruit more women officers so they make up a third of the force.

The Jaipur unit is just the second in Rajasthan state, with the first established in Udaipur last October.

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Reuters

Men welcoming the initiative too

Men are also being affirmative about the step. Taking note, a Jaipur resident, Ram Lal Gujar says, "It's a very good move. When a man gets rounded up by these women, others will automatically feel the heat. They will have to mend their ways,".

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AFP