Phagwara, Punjab:
A toll-free round-the-clock phone helpline for women has been launched in Phagwara on Tuesday to provide immediate help to them in case of sexual assault, police said.
Now women can dial helpline number 1091 in case of any trouble, City SP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh said adding the identity of the caller will be kept secret.
The helpline facility is functional on BSNL landlines and mobile phones, he said.
The move came amid nation-wide outrage over the recent gang-rape of a 23-year-old student in the national capital.
Initially, existing staff will respond to calls on the helpline number but soon women police personnel will be trained and deployed for the job, the SP said.
Police are also planning to start a combat training programme for women to help them defend themselves in case of an emergency, he said.