Punjab launches mobile women commando squads

Chandigarh, April 22 (IANS) Punjab Monday claimed to have become the first state in the country to launch mobile women commando squads to curb crime against women and speed up police response in such cases.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who also holds the home portfolio, Monday flagged off here the women commando squads for all corporation towns and big cities.

He said that the women squads would cover all cities within three months.

“This initiative has been necessitated keeping in view the rising crime against women all over the country. We have given intensive training to women commandos so that they can deal with any eventuality,” said Badal.

He said the pilot project of Women Armed Special Protection Squads (WASPS) launched last week in Bathinda Zone had got an encouraging response from women.

“Women are increasingly becoming confident to approach women commandos to report incidents of ‘eve teasing’ and other crimes against women and seeing the success of this pilot project, it is being replicated throughout the state,” he said.

Badal said that the mobile squads would be deployed at women colleges, schools, co-ed colleges, girls hostels, working women hostels, busy markets, malls, cinemas and other sensitive points to ensure safety for women and girls.

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