In a major step toward strengthening women’s safety, Kolkata Police will soon set up two dedicated “pink booths” in each of the city’s 10 traffic and police divisions. According to police sources, these booths will be positioned at the busiest and most crucial intersections across Kolkata, ensuring round-the-clock support for women who may feel unsafe while travelling at night.
“Each booth will be headed by a woman officer-in-charge, assisted by three to five women police personnel. These teams will carry out continuous surveillance and patrolling throughout the night. Any woman feeling threatened or stranded can immediately approach the booth. The pink booth team will then coordinate with the local police station and the police control room if needed, ensuring swift intervention,” said a senior officer at Lalbazar police headquarters.
The officer further stated that women returning home late at night, who are unable to find safe transportation, will receive direct assistance from these booths. The pink booth team will arrange transport to ensure they reach home safely, reinforcing the initiative’s goal of providing immediate, on-ground support.
The police are also taking additional steps to improve the reporting process for women. Many victims, especially in sensitive cases, hesitate to share details with male officers. “To address this, a woman nodal officer will be appointed in every police station. She will be responsible for listening to complaints, assisting with legal procedures, and maintaining contact with the investigation, ensuring that complainants are supported at every stage,” the officer added.
The new measures come in the wake of a horrifying incident on November 28, when a woman waiting for a bus near Ambedkar Bridge on EM Bypass was allegedly offered a lift, drugged, molested, and assaulted in a moving car. She was later abandoned in the Maidan area, from where the police rescued her and admitted her to SSKM Hospital. The prime accused, Altaf Alam (24) from Garden Reach, has since been arrested, while the search for the remaining suspects continues.
Although recent NCRB data indicates a slight decrease in crimes against women in West Bengal, sporadic incidents of molestation and threats on Kolkata’s night roads continue to cause concern among residents. “Initiatives such as special teams, designated safe zones, and uninterrupted patrolling are essential to making the city’s roads safer for women, especially after dark,” said another police officer.
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