Driving at women safety, the Punjab Government on Tuesday announced police escort for those travelling late at night. Chief Minister made it clear that women, travelling between 9 pm and 6 am, could call 100, 112 and 181 to seek police help for the pick-and-drop facility if they are stranded outside.

The decision came at a time when the entire nation is clamouring for providing safety to the womenfolk in the wake of rising incidences of atrocities, including rape, against them.

Chief Minister has directed state Director General of Police (DGP) Dinkar Gupta to ensure the implementation of the facility across the State.

The state-wide facility will be available on 100, 112 and 181, through which the woman caller will be connected immediately to the Police Control Room (PCR). “The pick-up and drop facility will be available to women who do not have access to a safe vehicle, including taxi or three-wheeler,” said the spokesperson.

To give the woman caller a sense of total security, the Chief Minister has directed that at least one lady police officer should accompany her during transportation.

Giving details, the state police chief Gupta said that the dedicated PCR vehicles will be made available at the Commissionerates at Mohali, Patiala and Bathinda, as well as other major towns in the state, for the implementation of the scheme.

“DSP or ACP (Crime against Women) will be the Nodal Officer to implement the scheme in each district. Their numbers would be available on the Punjab Government and Punjab Police websites,” said the DGP adding that the additional DGP (Crime) Gurpreet Deo will be the State Nodal Officer for the facility.

The directions have come amid the nationwide public furore over the rape and murder of a Telangana vet, who was abducted, gang-raped and then set afire by the accused.

Expressing shock over the Telangana incident, the Chief Minister said that his Government was committed to ensure the safety and security of women in the State and would take all possible steps for the same.

The DGP said that the state police was working on more schemes to provide fool-proof security to women.

 Meanwhile, Punjab State Women Commission's chairperson Manisha Gulati on Tuesday wrote a letter to the Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh requesting that directions should be issued to the police department for further strengthening the security of women in the state.

Spokesperson said that the letter was written by Gulati in the backdrop of a heart-rending incident with a woman veterinary doctor in Hyderabad.

In her letter, she said that women and girls should be provided with a safe environment so that they have a sense of security and are not afraid to travel anywhere.