900 spots in A.P. identified as unsafe for women: DGP

DGP Gupta outlines measures to improve women's safety in State, including Sakthi App and conviction of offenders.

Police have identified about 900 vulnerable places which are unsafe for women in the State, said Director General of Police (DGP) Harish Kumar Gupta. Steps are being taken to improve electrification, installation of CCTVs and maintenance of vigil at these spots to check crime against women, he added.

As many as 169 accused were convicted by the courts in cases related to crime against women and children in the last ten months. The accused were involved in rape, gang rape, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012, and other cases, the DGP said.

To check and track the investigation in cases of crime against women, government has constituted a ‘Women and Child Safety Wing’. Inspector General of Police B. Raja Kumari will head the wing, the DGP stated in a press release on Monday.

“About 1.52 lakh people have downloaded the ‘Sakthi App’ in their mobile phones. The app is available in English and Hindi languages. Police received 11.60 lakh SoS calls, of which 3,193 cases have been registered,” Mr. Harish Kumar Gupta said.

In total, 164 Sakthi teams have been formed in the State, which conducted over 12,000 awareness programmes at bus and railway stations, and other public places. Police identified 254 habitual eve-teasers and instructions have been given to track their movements, the DGP said.

Police have been conducting programmes on the use of ‘Sakthi App’, which has been tracking cases on missing persons, safe travel, family disputes and other issues, he said.