EXCLUSIVE: After Sakinaka Rape, Mumbai Police Step Up Women’s Safety Measures With Special Squad, Vans, Cameras

According to the Mumbai Police, the force is being provided with special training, and improved CCTV surveillance is being used along with special vehicles for patrolling.

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New Delhi: The Mumbai Police have increased vigilance in the metropolitan city following the shocking rape and murder of a woman in the Sakinaka area. A number of measures are being enforced to ensure the safety of women.

Speaking to ABP News, Joint Commissioner (Law and Order) of Mumbai Police Vishwas Nagre Patil said: "We had sent female police officers to be a part of the Nirbhaya Squad to Hyderabad for training, which is now complete."

According to Patil, measures like a special police force, nodal officer for every region, deployment of special vehicles, and use of intelligent safety cameras have been taken to improve efforts towards women's safety. Women Safety Cells have also been set up at all police stations in Mumbai.

Mobile vans, like the ones attached with police stations all over Mumbai, would be deployed with the Nirbhaya squad, and special training would be imparted to collect confidential information by patrolling areas where children's homes, orphanages, and women's paying guest accommodations are located, Patil said.

An order has been issued to set up a consultation camp where the victims, especially children, would be counselled by a psychiatrist.

The most important step taken is that the additional commissioner has been asked to get officers and staff trained to handle intelligence cameras, which would prove crucial in gathering evidence in cases such as men staring at or stalking women. All information recorded daily on the cameras and surveillance equipment would be transferred to a computer and analysed at police stations.

In addition, the Nirbhaya team has been directed to go to schools, colleges, women's PG facilities and provide basic self-defence training. 'Nirbhaya Complaint Boxes' are being installed at all these locations, where women can drop their complaints relevant to their safety. Any officer patrolling in the area would have to check complaints in the 'Nirbhaya Complaint Box' installed in the particular area, and take action on the grievances.