‘Pink Patrol Van’ for women’s safety

With a view to enhancing women’s security, the city police have rolled out the Pink Police Patrol van.

The van is exclusively dedicated to keep a vigil on eve teasers on approach roads and near women’s college and girls schools.

The vehicle, equipped with continuous tracking devices, is among those that will be deployed by the police with the prime objective of extending assistance to women in distress.

East Singhbhum SSP Anoop Birtharay, soon after launching the patrol van near Jamshedpur Women’s College in Bistupur said that the initiative is to enhance women security especially girl students near colleges and schools.

“It is our ambitious project and we are confident to make it success. At present we have only one pink patrol van and depending on needs we will increase the numbers in due course. The van will have three women constables, one men constable (driver) and an officer (mostly men) of the rank of ASI. The officer will be armed (pistol) while the constables will have lathis,” the senior officer said.

Incidentally, the district police has nearly 30 police control room patrol vans and 13 highway patrol vans (positioned along national and State highways), apart from 32 bike borne Tiger patrol Jawans.

The patrol vehicle will be deployed in areas that have high presence of women and will function from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

 The services of the pink patrol system can be sought by contacting 9430774595.  The van like the normal patrolling van is equipped with continuous tracking devices (GPS) which will give an idea about it location to the police control room in Sakchi along with wireless set and will be doing patrol at Jamshedpur Women’s College (Bistupur), Graduate School College for Women (Sakchi) and other girl schools.

 The number would be in addition to the police distress toll free number 100 and Shakti mobile app of Jharkhand police dedicated for women safety.

 “We are really very excited to roll out the van. This is a preventive exercise to not allow group of boys standing without reasons near the women colleges. We are trying to prevent occurrence of any incidents at least in the vicinity of colleges and schools,” said city SP Prabhat Kumar.

The students have also welcomed the move. “ I think it is a great initiative by the police as women safety is a matter of concern in our country. Incidents of rape, murder, kidnapping, acid attack and stalking have been on the rise. Women should also equip themselves with self -defense tools like pepper-sprays so that they save themselves from the criminals by the time such help reaches them.

All the State-Governments should learn from this and launch such an initiative in their respective states as a best practice sharing and ensure women safety across India,” noted a student of Jamshedpur Women’s College.