In an unusual late-night operation to assess women’s safety on the ground, Malkajgiri Police Commissioner B. Sumathi went undercover at public locations shortly after assuming charge, posing as a civilian to observe real-time conditions.

The exercise, conducted during the intervening night earlier this month, saw the Commissioner visit locations in Dilsukhnagar to identify the challenges faced by women during late hours.

Within a short time, a group of young men approached her and engaged in inappropriate conversations, with most of them identified as students.

Unaware of her identity, the group continued their behaviour until pre-deployed police teams intervened and detained them. Instead of immediately booking criminal cases, the police counselled the youths, warning them about the legal consequences of harassment and stressing the importance of respecting women in public spaces.

Officials said the exercise was not intended as a show of enforcement but as a ground-level assessment of safety concerns.

“Certain localities are witnessing a surge in late-night activity involving young people, with concerns extending beyond harassment to substance abuse, including drugs and alcohol, and the vulnerability of minors,” said Ms Sumathi.

She also noted that some areas are increasingly becoming hubs for problematic activities, fuelled by the presence of hostels and dense residential clusters, making monitoring and parental oversight more difficult.