Police ‘akka’ to prevent crimes against girl students

COIMBATORE: The Coimbatore City Police on Tuesday launched the ‘Police Akka’ project designating women cops in colleges to prevent crimes against girl students.

Launching the initiative in the presence of representatives of colleges, City Police Commissioner V Balakrishnan said that 37 women cops have been trained to take up the role of police akka in 60 colleges.

These cops will visit the colleges designated to them, indulge in frequent interactions with girl students and develop a strong bonding with them to solve their issues.

“The mobile numbers of cops will be displayed in prominent spots in the college premises for students to reach out. These cops will visit the college, may be once in a week or 15 days and spend stipulated hours in a designated place in the campus, when girl students can meet them and open up on their issues,” the Commissioner said.

The designated police ‘akka’ will provide psychological counselling to students, prevent sexual offences and control sale of drugs in colleges with information gathered from students.

“Girl students are largely becoming victims of cyber crimes. They do not know whom to approach and open up on their issues as they hesitate to reveal their problems to teachers and parents. And students come to the police station only when the problem becomes more complicated. Hereafter, the women cops will help them nip their problem in the bud itself, while keeping their identity a secret,” he added.