Home minister RR Patil on Wednesday annou-nced that the dedicated wing to deal with crimes against women, Women Offences Wing (WOW), would be set up within a fortnight. "It will be similar to the Economic Offences Wing," Patil said.

Between 2009 and 2011, the state reported 46,000 cases related to crime against women and a conviction rate of 9.6% in rape cases.

The WOW will be attac-hed to the crime branch, and offences registered with police stations will  automatically get linked to the crime branch. The WOW will be set up first in urban areas. The state is expected to appoint a senior woman police officer as WOW head.

"For supporting the wing, we are recruiting personnel. Of the 32,000 personnel, 30% will be women," Patil said.