Female Police Squad Against Sexual Assault

Female police officers are reshaping a male-dominated force in northwestern India, cracking down on sex crimes and breaking the culture of silence surrounding rape cases.

Patrolling bus stations, universities, and parks—places where women are vulnerable to sexual harassment—is the daily work of a newly formed all-female police unit in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan state in northwestern India.

India has a notorious reputation for sexual crimes, with nearly 40,000 rape cases reported each year. However, the actual number is believed to be much higher because victims often do not report the incidents due to concerns about how the case will be handled.

"The message we want to send is that we have zero tolerance for crimes against women," said Kamal Shekhawat, head of the Jaipur task force established in late May.

The Jaipur all-female police unit was established to empower women to report sexual predators. Photo: AFP.

Just one message

Only 7% of India's police force is female. And social activists report that victims are often judged by their appearance, interrogated as criminals, or even accused of instigating the rapist.

The shame of being raped is deeply ingrained in India's patriarchal society, and the fear of retaliation prevents many victims from reporting their perpetrators, ultimately leading to the rapists going unpunished.

Shekhawat hopes that seeing female police officers on patrol will encourage more women in Jaipur to report harassers because they will feel they have found someone they can confide in.

"Female police officers are more empathetic, and victims will feel more confident in reporting their incidents openly to them," she said.

Kamal Shekhawat, leader of the all-female police force in Jaipur. Photo: AFP.

In a park in Jaipur, female police officer Saroj Chodhuary, dressed in khaki and wearing a white protective helmet, stepped out of her patrol car and walked towards a group of women wearing saris to introduce herself.

"You just need to call or even just send a message on WhatsApp. We'll be there immediately," she said.

"Your identity will not be revealed, so you don't have to worry about speaking up. If someone calls you to harass or bother you in any way, please let us know. Don't stay silent."

Those women were impressed by Chodhuary's commanding presence and felt reassured knowing that a simple phone call would secure assistance. Chodhuary and his colleagues had received martial arts training and spent months studying law.

The Jaipur female police team promotes awareness among women about reporting crimes. Photo: AFP.

Radha Jhabua, a 24-year-old mother, said she wanted to report a neighbor who was secretly stalking her, but her husband feared that doing so would bring shame to the family.

"My husband wanted me to keep quiet and wait for that man to change his behavior. I'm glad that now we just need to send a message via WhatsApp to these sisters and they'll take care of the rest," she told AFP.

Seema Sahu, a 38-year-old mother of two, says she usually avoids going out with her daughters in the evenings.

"I'm very happy that these female police officers will be patrolling the streets. Their presence makes us feel more confident," she said.

Restore order.

India has been under close international scrutiny regarding the level of violence against women following the gang rape that resulted in the death of a medical student in New Delhi in December 2012.

Laws punishing sexual crimes have been strengthened, but attacks continue to occur everywhere. In New Delhi alone, there were 2,199 cases of rape in 2015, an average of six per day.

Indian police have been ordered to recruit more female officers until women make up one-third of the force.

However, the number of female police officers remains very small to this day.

Female police officers on patrol in Jaipur. Photo: AFP.

The all-female police unit in Jaipur is the second in Rajasthan state. The first was established in Udaipur last October.

Police in neighboring Uttar Pradesh, a state known for its unrest, have been criticized for their controversial approach to combating sex-related crimes.

The officers, including women, conducting a patrol called the "Anti-Romeo Squad" have been accused of harassing unmarried couples of various faiths. This is an attempt to enforce a moral regulation reflecting Hindu values.

Shekhawat said that such behavior doesn't occur within her patrol team. "We see very good impacts and positive results wherever our team patrols," she said.

"Our work has been effective in preventing incidents and helping to restore public trust in the police force. This is essential for maintaining law and order."

Men are also interested in the activities of the female police force. "This is a very good step forward. When a man is subdued by these women, others will have to be vigilant. They will have to adjust their behavior," said Ram Lal Gujar, a resident of Jaipur.

According to Zing.vn