Delhi Police to form Pink Force for women’s safety at vulnerable hotspots

Delhi Police will develop a dedicated ‘Pink Force’ comprising trained women personnel to patrol vulnerable locations across the capital, following directions from Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu.

Sandhu directed senior police officers on Tuesday to draw up the women-centric patrol unit on the lines of Goa Police’s Pink Force. The proposed unit will focus on maintaining a visible police presence and providing a quicker response, particularly during vulnerable hours.

The move comes amid a series of reported rape and sexual assault cases in Delhi, including incidents involving minors. Four such cases were reported across the capital in about 10 days, according to reports.

Women personnel to patrol key locations

The proposed Pink Force is expected to patrol areas around schools, colleges and metro stations, besides other locations identified as vulnerable or crime-prone.

The force is intended to work as a high-visibility deterrent while enabling quicker police intervention during hours considered particularly sensitive. However, Delhi Police has not yet announced the strength of the unit, its launch date, district-wise deployment or specific patrol timings.

Sandhu has also directed Delhi Police to increase foot and motorcycle patrolling in vulnerable, crime-prone and high-footfall areas, particularly around educational institutions, markets and transport hubs.

The lieutenant governor stressed that women’s safety was “non-negotiable” and said the objective should be to ensure greater public confidence in policing.

Operation Shishtachar to continue

The proposed unit will operate alongside existing measures aimed at improving women's safety. Sandhu directed police to continue focused action against eve-teasing and harassment in public spaces under Operation Shishtachar.

He also called for stronger links between police stations, beat officers and local communities, along with greater visible policing in areas with heavy public movement.

Delhi Police has separately been strengthening its women-focused infrastructure. In June, Sandhu inaugurated the force's first dedicated Women Police Station in Subzi Mandi in north Delhi. The station was established to deal with crimes against women and children and provide a victim-centric policing environment.

Goa model being considered for Delhi

Goa already has a dedicated Pink Force within its police structure. Official Goa Police records list a Superintendent of Police for the Pink Force and a separate Pink Force unit, while the state government has described it as a dedicated police initiative.

The Goa unit has also undertaken specialised training. In 2024, 31 Pink Force personnel underwent basic life-support and pre-hospital care training as part of an emergency response programme.

Delhi's proposed unit is therefore being planned as part of a broader effort to increase visible policing and improve response in locations where women and children may be particularly vulnerable.

Sandhu's directions came during his second visit to Delhi Police headquarters since June 24. He also asked officers to ensure that citizens' grievances are acknowledged, digitally tracked and acted upon within defined timelines.