DGP launches 8 Bharosa centres, website for State FSL

Hyderabad: In a move to ensure safety of women and to prevent domestic and sexual abuse, the Telangana police started eight centres on Tuesday under its Bharosa initiative.

The newly added districts include Bhadradi-Kothagudem, Jaitiyal, Jangaon, Mancherial, Mulugu, Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli and Wanaparthy. The centres were inaugurated virtually by Director-General of Police Ravi Gupta and Additional Director-General of Police of Women Safety Shikha Goel.

Goel highlighted the inception of Bharosa centres in 2013 based on the Supreme Court guidelines for establishing one-stop centres. She acknowledged the significant progress made since then till December 2023 in supporting 4,782 POCSO cases and 1,163 rape cases.

The Bharosa centres, strategically located across the State, aim to provide support/assistance to victims of crime, especially women and children. The centres serve as safe spaces where survivors can access counselling, legal aid and medical assistance. The expansion of centres to additional districts reaffirms the police commitment to enhancing victim-centric services and fostering a safer environment for citizens.

Later, the two officers also launched user-friendly website for the State Forensic Science Laboratory. Goel said the website has been built using new-age technologies, featuring an integrated CMS platform with ability to host both dynamic and static content.

The DGP stated that, with increased expectations from various stakeholders on SFSL, it was important to provide critical contact information as well as info on training schedules and details of various laboratories through an informative website.

The website will serve as a comprehensive platform for information dissemination, online services and updates on forensic activities. It reflects the department's dedication to embracing technological advancements for better transparency and accessibility. Gupta expressed commitment to strengthening State forensic capabilities, emphasising the crucial role forensic science plays in criminal investigations. He acknowledged the collaborative efforts of State FSL and the dedication of law enforcement personnel in ensuring justice and public safety.