Kozhikode cops to train women to defend

Kozhikode: In the backdrop of the increasing number of crimes against women and children, the state government had recently directed to set up institutes that provide free lessons in self-defence. In Kozhikode, the city police has informed their willingness to turn the top floor of its dormitory as a permanent institute for classes. DGP Loknath Behera told Deccan Chronicle that such institutes would be set up in all the 19 police districts and the service would be free for women.

“Training had been imparted to nearly 1,000 women police personnel. These institutes would be permanent, along with the training programmes the department offers in schools and colleges. Our team has developed a composite training programme for self-defence, which includes traits of various defence techniques, including the traditional ones,” the DGP said. He added that the institutes were scheduled to be operational in a month’s time.

The office of the Woman CI in the city said the service of various Kalaris that already support the defence programmes of women, including the Pink Patrolling, would be utilised. The services would be totally free, and anybody can walk in and register for the training. Girls from Class VIII and above are preferred, they added. The cost of furnishing and running the training programme in Kozhikode city is estimated at Rs 2 lakh. Similar institutes are expected to be ready in other districts within a month.