CISF deploys women staff in metro, vigil intensified

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has intensified its checks in metro coaches on all six lines to ensure safety of women commuters. Subhendu Ray reports.

The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has intensified its checks in metro coaches on all six lines to ensure safety of women commuters.

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"We have formed six special dedicated teams of our women staff to ensure safety of women commuters in metro trains, especially during lean hours," said Udayan Banerjee, DIG (Delhi Metro), CISF. Each team comprises a sub-inspector and three women constables.

The plainclothes special women teams operate from 8pm till the completion of service hours.

Members of the special teams travel in ladies' coaches in plainclothes on stretches where footfall of women is higher.

They board metros at random stations as general commuters and keep an eye on male commuters who enter the women coaches or try to misbehave with them.

"The special teams prosecuted over 500 male commuters during the first week of January," said a CISF spokesperson. "All of them were issued a challan of R250 each and those who misbehaved with women commuters were handed over to the police.

The police have also started conducting joint raids in women compartments during evening peak hours (5.30pm to 9pm) to ensure the security of female commuters.

Special teams along with CISF staff, local policemen and metro police frequently and randomly board metro trains.

When a train crosses the Delhi border and enters Noida, UP police personnel replace Delhi Police in the team. Similarly, when a train enters Gurgaon, Haryana Police replace Delhi police, said Banerjee.

Currently, 770 women CISF personnel are deployed in metro stations. Keeping in view the rise in the number of commuters, CISF is planning to increase the strength of women staff.