OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 FOCUS ESTABLISHMENT OF WOMEN POLICE STATIONS IN KOLKATA

The Tollygunge Women Police Station was one of the first four Women Police Stations under Kolkata Police launched on 27th July 2016. The other three were Watgunge Women Police Station, Patuli Women Police Station and Amherst Street Women Police Station. These first four created a foundational network intended to cover the city’s various divisions and ensure women across Kolkata had access to dedicated police support. Over time, additional Women Police Stations were added, expanding the reach of the initiative city-wide. As per a 2023 State data, there are 49 Women Police Stations across West Bengal.

The Tollygunge Women Police Station jurisdiction roughly corresponds to the city’s “South Division” under Kolkata Police. As a Women Police Station, its mandate is to register complaints from women and children and to investigate crimes against them, including but not limited to dowry harassment, domestic violence, sexual offences, molestation, abduction, and offences under child- protection laws. This aligns with the broader role defined for all WPS under Kolkata Police. By providing a women- exclusive policing environment, the Station aims to offer a safer space for victims to report crimes, reducing hesitation and encouraging reporting of sensitive offences. TOLLYGUNGE WOMEN POLICE STATION A BEACON OF HOPE FOR WOMEN Women have been formally recruited into Kolkata Police since 1949, when the first women sub-inspectors and assistant sub- inspectors joined the Force. Over decades, policing in Kolkata was largely run through general police stations. However, to address crimes against women and children more sensitively, Kolkata Police introduced dedicated Women Police Stations (WPS) units staffed by female officers that are focused on women-related offences under a women-friendly environment. This move reflects a broader objective of the Kolkata Police to ensure that law enforcement remains compassionate, equitable, and responsive to gender-sensitive issues.

The Kolkata PROTECTOR Early Life and Career Shift Born and raised in Howrah, Rima Khanra Gupta did not come from a policing background. Her entry into the force was entirely self-driven. After completing her academic studies, she briefly worked at a mobile service centre. The experience, though useful, offered limited scope for growth and came with demanding hours and a salary that did not match industry standards. Recognising that she needed a more meaningful and sustainable career path, she made a decisive shift. Motivated by stability, purpose and the desire to remain close to her city, she began preparing for competitive examinations. She secured recruitment through the Staff Selection Commission, marking the beginning of her journey into policing. Training and Early Postings Rima joined police training in December 2009. Her career officially began at the Watgunge Police Station, where she served as a trainee and gained foundational exposure to field policing. In September 2011, she was posted to Bansdroni Police Station as a Sub-Inspector. The unit was newly established at the time, giving her a rare opportunity to learn the complexities of setting up and operationalising a new police station. This early experience strengthened her adaptability, problem-solving abilities, and leadership instincts. Expanding Experience Across the City In 2013, she moved to Maidan Police Station, one of the most strategically located units in the city, and served there for three years. Her responsibilities in this high- visibility jurisdiction broadened her understanding of diverse policing challenges. Her first exposure to women- centric policing came in 2016, when she was posted to the Patuli Women Police Station, soon after Women Police Stations were inaugurated across Kolkata. This role introduced her to the sensitive, specialised domain of responding to crimes against women. She went on to serve at Jadavpur Police Station (2017), and in Jorasanko Police Station, Central Division. These postings deepened her experience across varied socio-cultural and operational environments. In 2021, she was transferred to Taltala Women Police Station, further solidifying her expertise in cases involving domestic violence, dowry disputes, abduction, and sexual offences.

Leadership at Tollygunge Women Police Station After her promotion, Rima Khanra Gupta took charge as the Officer- In-Charge of the Tollygunge Women Police Station, one of the first four Women Police Stations established in Kolkata. Situated in the heart of Rashbehari Avenue, the Station plays a critical role in the city’s women- centric policing framework.

Under her leadership, the Tollygunge Women Police Station continues to:

• Investigate crimes exclusively related to women.

• Address domestic violence, dowry-related complaints, and abduction cases.

• Handle sexual offence cases with sensitivity and rigour.

• Strengthen trust between women citizens and the police .

• Promote a safer, more inclusive policing environment in Kolkata Rima says, “We have received tremendous support from local women, who come to us with their concerns, and we stand by them with full assistance.” RIMA KHANRA GUPTA Officer-In-Charge, Tollygunge Women Police Station.

OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 2025 FOCUS POCSO CASES:

THE NEED FOR AWARENESS Women Police Stations regularly receive POSCO-related complaints, which officers handle strictly from a legal standpoint. Recalling one such case, Rima says: “A woman from a lower-middle-class family once came to Jadavpur Police Station to report her daughter missing. She worked at a poultry firm near Malancha cinema hall and returned home to find her daughter gone. We discovered that the girl was close to a young man. As we tracked their movements, we learnt he was in the Kultuli area of South 24 Parganas, suggesting the minor had likely run away with him. I reached the area in the evening with a departmental officer and a junior lady colleague. Locals warned us to leave immediately, but the police from the nearby outpost supported us. During the search, a civic volunteer who is related to the culprit revealed that the pair had moved to Dhapa. We conducted a raid and rescued the minor girl along with the accused within 24 hours.” A BROADER RANGE OF COMPLAINTS Today, more women are approaching Women Police Stations to report offences, and officers often find themselves acting as counsellors. She recalled another case from 2018: “It was just before the Puja festivities when a nurse living in a shared accommodation reported missing valuables, including jewellery. She suspected a fellow roommate, who is known for kleptomaniac tendencies. During questioning, the suspect refused to confess. Despite the legal complexities, we handled the case carefully and recovered all the stolen items, some of which had already been sold.” CHALLENGES AND THE ROAD AHEAD “Women Police Stations are still evolving, with significant scope for infrastructure upgrades. Manpower shortages remain a challenge. In a general police station, designated officers handle different sections, but this is not always possible here due to limited staff. In the Southern Division, we manage roster duties while handling station responsibilities simultaneously. However, the concept of Women Police Stations has succeeded in making policing more inclusive. More women now approach us without hesitation, and public awareness has increased considerably,” concluded Rima Khanra Gupta, Officer-In-Charge, Tollygunge Women Police Station.