West Bengal Launches Women’s Help Desks, Increases Police Patrols
Times of India | 3 July 2026
Kolkata: The state has adopted a zero-tolerance policy towards crime against women, CM Suvendu Adhikari said on Thursday after launching dedicated women’s help desks across all police stations in Bengal.
“We have given the topmost priority to ensuring women’s safety. Learning from bitter experiences in Nirbhaya and Abhaya cases, we will take every possible measure to strengthen the safety and security of women.” the CM said.
The women’s help desks will function round the clock, staffed by trained women police personnel. Women will be able to report complaints directly to female officers, seek guidance and receive counselling whenever required, creating a more accessible and supportive environment for victims of crime and harassment.
DGP S N Gupta said the Centre had allocated funds for women’s help desks in police stations as early as 2022. But the project had not been implemented under the previous Trinamool govt.
The CM also inaugurated the Durga Suraksha squad, a patrol unit for women’s security in all districts and police commissionerates across Bengal. Woman cops equipped with bikes will patrol neighbourhoods and improve police visibility. In the first phase, 213 bikes have been allocated.
The CM acknowledged the existing infrastructure constraints but directed officers to ensure that the quality of service is not compromised.
The govt also announced measures to strengthen police surveillance and operational response. Twenty live audio-video transmission systems along with advanced cameras have been allocated to police districts surrounding Kolkata.