Inspector General of Police (Women and Child Safety Wing) B. Raja Kumari said on Tuesday that Andhra Pradesh police was giving top priority to the safety of women and children through a series of technology-driven and victim-centric initiatives. Addressing a joint press conference with Bapatla Superintendent of Police (SP) B. Umamaheswar at the district police headquarters, she highlighted the achievements of various Statewide programmes.

Ms. Raja Kumari said the State had successfully implemented the Shakti App with 1.5 crore registrations and deployed 164 Shakti Teams across 28 districts, ensuring emergency response within eight minutes. Under ‘Operation Trace’, police traced 9,007 missing persons, including 6,098 women and 2,909 girls, and reunited them with their families. Through ‘Operation Chinnari Thalli’ counselling was provided to 2,171 POCSO victims.

She said that ‘Operation Dandayan’ aimed at securing swift punishment for crimes against women had resulted in chargesheets being filed within 60 days of offences. Statewide, 5,119 sexual offender sheets were opened and 595 convictions secured, including 155 life sentences and four death penalties.

Mr. Umamaheswar said Bapatla district had emerged as a leader in curbing crimes against women and children. The district had opened 311 sexual offender sheets, conducted 4,539 awareness programmes, facilitated 1.05 lakh Shakti App downloads and secured convictions in 39 cases under Operation Dandayan.