Chennai: The Singappen Special Rapid Response Force will not be involved in registering cases or conducting investigations, its Inspector General Bhavaneeswari said in an interview.
She said the unit has been created specifically to prevent crimes against women and children across Tamil Nadu. The state government has allocated Rs 354 crore for the force, under which 316 four-wheelers, 101 two-wheelers and 49 drones, among other equipment, are to be procured for patrol duties.
A dedicated control room will be set up at the DGP’s office, and 2,545 new posts have been created, with recruitment to be taken up soon. Across the state, 270 monitoring teams have been formed sub-division-wise, with 70 teams already deployed in the first phase.
Bhavaneeswari said the force will patrol areas such as IT companies with large women workforces, bus and railway stations, and commercial complexes. If required, team members will be provided weapons, and those apprehended will be handed over to law-and-order and women police stations.
At present, information from women is being received through emergency numbers 100 and 112. Separate helpline numbers to reach the Singappen force will be announced, and the facility will also be integrated into the ‘Kavalan’ safety app, she added.
