Chandigarh, Apr 15: To ensure women's safety in the state, the Punjab government Sunday introduced the Women Armed Special Protection Squad (WASPS).
The first unit of WASPS was flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal - who is also Punjab's home minister - in Muktsar town, 260 km from here.
The new WASPS unit will serve six districts of Bathinda zone in southwest Punjab. These include Muktsar Sahib, Bathinda, Faridkot, Mansa, Ferozepur and Fazilka districts.
"The Punjab government is fully committed to ensure the safety and security of women in the state and for this purpose, the special armed women security squads will be deployed in each district of the state," Badal said.
He said that 10 teams of WASPS would be deployed in every district soon.
Badal said that the women squad would have a uniform, revolvers, handcuffs, batons, chilli powder, wireless systems and a complete sound system to send an alert.
WASPS would deployed near educational institutions, markets and other busy places.
The teams will patrol on scooters.
Badal said that more women constables would be recruited in Punjab Police.
He said that Punjab had recruited 3,233 women constables, while 1,200 more would be recruited in the next three years, including 338 women sub-inspectors.
He added that 20 special judicial courts dedicated to women would also be set up.
