Kolkata Police's Durga Suraksha Squad on Monday, 20 July launched a 30-day city-wide awareness campaign targeting crimes against women and cyber fraud, covering 120 locations across 60 police stations. The drive marks a significant expansion of the squad's mandate beyond its original scooter-based patrol function.

Scale and Structure of the Drive

According to senior police officials, Lalbazar — Kolkata Police headquarters — identified the 120 locations spanning 60 police stations as priority outreach points for the campaign's 30-day duration. Teams will visit four locations daily across two police station areas, distributing leaflets and engaging directly with residents and pedestrians.

To amplify reach, police teams will deploy loudspeakers and screen short video clips at street intersections, addressing public queries on the spot. Lalbazar has allocated 10 scooters and a dedicated vehicle for the squad, with additional logistical support drawn from local police stations, cyber police units, and women's teams from the intelligence department.

Joint Patrol Teams and Expanded Mandate

A dedicated joint patrol unit has been constituted, bringing together personnel from local police stations, the cyber police station, women's police stations, and women's cells. The Durga Suraksha Squad — originally formed to conduct motorbike patrols to deter harassment in public spaces — has now been assigned the additional responsibility of leading community outreach under this initiative.

Notably, women police personnel attached to the squad will continue regular motorbike patrols alongside the awareness activities. Senior officials at headquarters are tasked with monitoring the programme's progress throughout its run.

Coverage Beyond Kolkata

The campaign's reach extends beyond the city limits. Similar arrangements have been made in parts of the Presidency Range, including Basirhat, Bangaon, and Barasat. Police have also put in place real-time audio-visual transmission facilities to enable live monitoring and broadcasting of incidents when required.

Policy Context and Cyber Safety Push

The drive comes amid the state government's stated 'zero tolerance' policy towards crimes against women. The Durga Suraksha Squad itself was announced last month, with a mandate to respond immediately to incidents of harassment in public places.

This comes amid a broader institutional push on cyber safety: the state has set up dedicated cyber help desks at police stations to assist victims of online fraud and cybercrime. The integration of cyber police personnel into the joint patrol teams signals that digital crime is now being treated on par with physical safety concerns in the city's policing strategy.

What Comes Next

The campaign is scheduled to run through mid-August. Senior officials at Lalbazar will review outreach data from each location to assess impact. Whether the drive translates into measurable improvements in reporting rates for crimes against women and cyber fraud will be closely watched by civic groups and women's rights organisations in the city.