TEAM HERALD
PANJIM: Conceding that police help desks for women, which were set up at every police station about two years ago are now defunct, Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar announced that government is replacing these with ‘women help bench’ to assist women in distress.
“A women help bench across all the police stations will be manned by women officials round the clock. Government will recruit 300 women personnel comprising 79 lady police sub inspectors,” he said at a news conference in the presence of Inspector General of Police Sunil Garg.
After the horrific case of sexual assault of a seven-year-old school student at Vasco in January 2013, Goa Police had set up help desks at every police station and created toll free helpline number 1091 for women in distress. However, after a couple of months, the help desks stopped functioning owing to lack of women staff.
“It stopped functioning probably because of lack of adequate number of women staff. We have now sanctioned 300 lady police personnel…all these things will be taken care of,” he said.
IGP Garg disclosed that the department has recently started a women police station for South Goa district claiming that despite manpower shortage, the strength of women police officials at crucial police stations has been increased. Goa, until now had just one women police station in Panjim where women related cases from across the State was registered.
Ahead of major events this month, Parsekar also announced that the anti-terrorist squad now comprises of 110 personnel who had joined the force after finishing their training with Maharashtra police in various aspects including intelligence gathering. “They will be keeping surveillance on anti terror activities. We are now up to full capacity,” he said. Garg assured that the squad would be available round-the-clock to counter any kind of emergency.
At present, the department has canceled leave of all its personnel to ensure foolproof security across the State.
Parsekar reiterated that the helpline number to file complaints against corrupt policemen is operational since November 15. Surprisingly, there has not been a single call till date. Similarly, a helpline for the senior citizens in distress will be launched on December 19, Goa’s Liberation Day.
