Against the backdrop of uproar over rising crimes against women in Pune, Pune Police will launch an initiative on International Women's Day where city police teams will visit schools and colleges, and students will be trained by Pune police lady officers.
Just few months after a girl was gang-raped at Bopdev Ghat in Pune, another girl was raped in a stationary bus parked at the MSRTC bus stand at Swargate, a stone's throw distance from the Swargate police station this month.
This heinous crime, just two days after Pune Police Commissioner stated that the city police are successful in managing crime, has raised several questions about the safety of women in Pune. This is not a singular case; crimes against women are rising in Pune day by day. What was once considered a safe city for women, Pune is now gaining a reputation for being an unsafe place for women.
2-hour training program
Ranjan Kumar Sharma, Joint Commissioner of Pune Police, said, "Female students will be trained by Pune police lady officers. It will begin on the occasion of Women's Day. Lady officers from the local police station, Damini Pathak, and other special teams will regularly visit schools and colleges. A 2-hour training program on self-defense, good touch, and bad touch will be conducted in schools and colleges."
He added, "The teams will teach how to react and take safety precautions in unsafe situations. This initiative will help train minors both physically and mentally. In many cases, people don't come forward due to a lack of knowledge and mental trauma. However, this training program will boost their willpower and help them come forward against crime."
Recently, Pune Police presented annual crime statistics. Speaking on the occasion, CP Amitesh Kumar said there was an increase in cases of rape and molestation "due to prompt and free registration of offences relating to women." 505 cases of rape and 864 of molestation were registered in 2024, compared to 410 cases of rape and 775 of molestation in 2023.
For the safety of women, a toll-free helpline '1091' has been started. After calling the number, a beat marshal and a Damini marshal from the nearest police station reach the spot immediately to resolve the issue, he said. There is also a WhatsApp number '8975953100' on which women can send their complaints.
