To deal with growing number of crime against women in Ranchi the police have decided to increase the number of Shakti Vahan in the city. As per the plans all the patrol vehicles, including the two odd Shakti Vahans, Tiger Mobiles and Panther Mobiles would be coloured in red and sky blue colour so that it will provide uniformity to the patrolling teams and will help the city residents to easily recognise them and call for their rescue.
Despite the launch of Shakti Vahan, crimes against women have not stopped in the city. These have rather increased in the recent past. Cases like eve teasing, snatching and human trafficking are regularly faced by the women across the city.
And, despite instant help facility for victims like Shakti Vahan and Mahila Helpline very few people could get actual help from the security persons.
As for Shakti Vahan, according to victims, it has failed miserably in curbing the crimes against women. Many victims claim that when they call for help to these Shakti Vahan or Mahila Helpine instead of taking any prompt action on the spot they ask the victim to lodge an F.I.R. first at the nearby police station.
It’s only in the last month many cases have been observed that the victims face problem when they seek help from Sahkti Vahans. When they call the number mentioned in the Vahans they are told to lodge an FIR in the nearby Police Station first. However, it has been clearly mentioned by the police while introducing the shakti vahan in the city, that it will help the common man to solve their problem relating small crimes by taking prompt action without going through the procedure of FIR.
When asked about the issue S.P. (City) Manoj Ratan said, “It is really wrong if Shakti Vahan asks for an FIR first instead of taking prompt action on the crime like eve teasing and snatching, he further added that another reason of such response by these Shakti Vahan is that they are few in numbers so they are not able to reach the spot on time considering it they ask to lodge the complain first”
While Senior S.P. Saket kumar Singh tried to justify the working of Shakti Vahan in the city by saying, “It is because of the effective working of these Shakti Vahans we are able to know the exact figure of cases relating to eve teasing and snatching. There are few such vehicles in city for which initiatives are being taken to increase it numbers so that it can work smoothly and no flaws can be seen in its working”.