Assam urged to expand all-women police stations amid rising crimes

A call for stronger measures to protect women in Assam has been made by the Human Rights Action Council. The organisation has urged Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma to set up all-women police stations in every district. Their appeal comes as crimes against women continue to rise across the state.

Assam currently has 58 all-women police stations, up from just 12 in 2020. A major expansion took place in December 2024, when 12 new stations were opened. Despite this growth, activists argue that more specialised units are needed to tackle gender-based violence effectively.

The council highlighted that sensitive cases—such as domestic abuse, harassment, and sexual assault—are often handled better by female officers. Assam recorded around 125 rape cases in 2025 alone, yet the state has historically lagged behind others like Manipur, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu in establishing dedicated women's police stations.

To improve response times, the proposal also includes introducing Pink Patrols—motorcycle-mounted women officers trained to assist victims quickly. Nationwide, around 745 all-women police stations exist, but over 90,000 cases of crimes against women remain pending in courts. Many more are still under investigation, underscoring the need for better infrastructure.

The Human Rights Action Council has stressed that expanding all-women police stations could strengthen safety for women in Assam. If implemented, the plan would address both the backlog of cases and the shortage of specialised law enforcement. The government has yet to respond to the proposal.