Pune: With the rising number of cases of molestation and eve-teasing, officials of the rural police on Monday inaugurated special squads of beat marshal police and ‘Damini’ squad, which will focus on crimes against women, children and senior citizens. 

The initiative was flagged off by Commissioner of Police Rashmi Shukla, who has helped the Pune rural police design the initiative. Superintendent of Rural Police Suvez Haque said a team of 205 police officials will be working in the initiative, across 36 police stations under the jurisdiction of Pune rural police. 

“The police officials of the squad will be equipped with motorcycles, smart phones, walkie-talkies, weapons, first aid box, visiting cards and other important gear,” rural police said.

This year, there were two incidents in which senior citizen couples were hacked to death by dacoits for money. Similarly, there were several incidents of eve-teasing and molestation, which led to formation of the special squads. 

The police said 18 Damini squads will focus on women’s safety and safety of students in schools and colleges. Similarly, 31 beat marshal squads will  tackle complaints of theft, robbery, emergency calls and other crime incidents.