In a significant move to enhance women's safety and encourage their participation in public life, the Mahila Cell of Ahmedabad's Detection of Crime Branch has initiated a comprehensive 30-day drive across the city. This integrated effort involves SHE teams and women police personnel from local stations working together to make public spaces more accessible and secure for women.
Strategic Deployment Across Key Locations
The drive, which began a few days ago, focuses on major public gathering spots throughout Ahmedabad. Initial deployments have targeted high-density areas including SG Highway, SP Ring Road with its Bodakdev stretch, and both sides of the Sabarmati Riverfront. These locations were selected based on their significant public footfall, particularly during evening and night hours.
Police officials emphasized that while they have identified priority areas, they remain open to public suggestions for additional locations where women feel police presence would be beneficial. This community-oriented approach aims to cover as many public spaces as possible during the month-long initiative.
Multi-Pronged Safety Objectives
According to DCP (Crime) Ajit Rajian, the drive has three primary objectives: curbing public nuisance and disorderly conduct during late hours, ensuring enhanced safety and security for women commuters, visitors, and residents, and maintaining strict vigil in areas with high night-time footfall as a deterrent against criminal behavior.
The initiative represents a proactive approach to women's safety, with police personnel deployed both in uniform and plain clothes at transportation hubs and public spaces where women might feel uncomfortable but hesitant to approach authorities directly.
Community Participation Encouraged
ACP Himla Joshi of the Mahila Cell has actively invited public input regarding other locations in the city where women believe police presence would aid in reclaiming public spaces. "We want to make sure that Ahmedabad remains the safest city and the only way to do that is to make sure that women feel safe to move about at any time," Joshi stated.
She further explained that the more women venture into public spaces, the safer those areas become. The police appeal to citizens to suggest additional spaces that could be covered under the drive, emphasizing that personnel will be deployed in both visible and discreet capacities based on situational requirements.
Legal actions will be taken under multiple provisions including the Gujarat Police Act against those creating public nuisance, eve-teasing, and disorderly behavior; the Juvenile Justice Act in cases involving minors; as well as the BNS and other relevant legal frameworks.
The drive builds on recent efforts by Mahila West police station, which had begun filing cases for public urination as part of environmental protection measures. This comprehensive approach addresses both safety concerns and civic behavior, creating a more welcoming environment for all citizens, particularly women seeking to reclaim their right to public spaces.
