More vehicles could be added to the force: CM
St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar speaking on the Pink Force in the Assembly on Wednesday.
MAPUSA
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Wednesday told the Goa Legislative Assembly that the government would look positively in increasing the number of vehicles and provide training on use of taser guns for the ‘Pink Force’ personnel.
“Goa Police launched the elite women force called ‘Pink Force’ to help women in distress and also for prevention of crime against women and children in the State including women tourists. The Pink Force vehicles are operating from 11 sub-divisions and there are 88 personnel dedicated to this force,” Sawant said, while responding to a query raised by St Andre MLA Viresh Borkar during the Question Hour.
A total of 533 cases against women were registered in the last three years.
Borkar said that crimes against women were rising steadily over the years and therefore, there was a need to increase staff and vehicles for the elite police force.
He also stressed the need to provide new skills and training to the women personnel attached to the Pink Force.
“Does the government plan to provide training to the Pink Force on how to use taser guns (weapons used to instantly incapacitate an attacker from a distance)?” Borkar queried.
The CM informed that the Pink Force was provided with basic training of how to handle a distress situation.
“We are planning to upgrade and provide them training as and when required. We can also think of providing them training on how to use taser guns,” he said.
He also admitted that there were lesser vehicles and more vehicles could be added to the force.
Bicholim MLA Chandrakant Shetye said there could be a threat to women in crowded places such as bus-stands and ferry points and whether the government would think of stationing the Pink Force at such places.
The CM said it was a good suggestion which will be noted.
Referring to the male drivers operating the vehicles of the Pink Force, Mandrem MLA Jit Arolkar suggested if the government could think of recruiting female drivers in place of males.
