PANAJI
Reeling under embarrassment over high profile crimes against women in the State, with even a Cabinet minister being forced to resign over sexual exploitation charges earlier this week, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Friday announced the launch of a 'Pink Force', a fully women-staffed police force specially formed to tackle crimes against women, children and tourists.
At the launch ceremony, celebrity Pooja Bedi also said that women in the state were feeling unsafe and added that the launch of the 'Pink Force' would make women more empowered in the coastal state.
"The 'Pink Force' will act for women and children and tourists too. They have been specially trained and counselled on how to act in cases. This force will be available 24x7 and round the clock to prevent crime," the Chief Minister said at the Force's launch event in Panaji.
Sawant also said that the Pink Force would be first put into action along the state's coastal belt, before it made operational across the length and breadth of Goa.
"It will be operational in 11 police stations in Goa at the outset, before it is taken to police stations across Goa to deal with cases related to women and children... Pink force will be available in the coastal belt, especially in places of tourist interest," the Goa Chief Minister also said.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, celebrity Pooja Bedi, who claimed she runs two start-up companies from Goa, said that two of her female employees were forced to quit their jobs because they felt scared to travel in the state after-hours.
Sawant has been the target of opposition ire over the last few months over the rising spate of crimes against women, especially the Siddhi Naik case as well as the alleged rape and attempt to suicide of a minor girl in Porvorim recently. Earlier this week Goa's Urban Development Minister Milind Naik was forced to resign following accusations of sexual exploitation of a widow.
Police statistics suggest that nearly four crimes against women are registered in the state's police stations every week.
