Jamshedpur: The East Singhbhum district police on Monday deployed Shakti Commandos, its all-women police squad, in the Steel City to ensure safety of women and girls at pandals and other public spaces during the Durga Puja festivities later this week.Led by Rupa Lal, the officer-in-charge of Sakchi women’s police station, the 12-member commando squad began patrolling the city’s streets on scooters with electric stun batons, body cameras and walkie-talkies. The squad will monitor sensitive locations, prevent eve-teasing and harassment, and respond swiftly to complaints.The teams have been deployed across six police divisions, including Sakchi-Bistupur, Sonari-Kadma, Sitaramdera-Sidhgora, Golmuri-Burmamines, Mango-Azadnagar-Ulidih and Telco-Birsanagar-Govindpur during the festival, SSP Ehtesham Waquarib said. “Our aim is to ensure that women can visit puja pandals, offer prayers and enjoy the festivities without fear,” he said.Women police personnel, also known as Police Didis, will be deployed in plain clothes at puja pandals that record higher footfall to identify troublemakers and assist women devotees. Police have advised the public to seek help through Dial 112 or the police WhatsApp chatbot service (8580090001) during the festivities.
