At a time thousands of women across Bengal are marching to "reclaim the night" following the grisly rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar hospital in the state capital, police in two north Bengal districts are trying to make their areas safer for women, by women.

The police in Cooch Behar and Kalimpong districts introduced “pink patrol” — all-women mobile patrolling squads — on Monday for the safety and mobility of women.

In Cooch Behar, Dyutiman Bhattacharya, the superintendent of police, inaugurated the squads at the district police lines.

“One of these mobile squads will work in Cooch Behar town while the other will patrol Dinhata. These squads will be vigilant across the towns, especially in areas where there is an assemblage of girls and women, including educational institutions,” said Bhattacharya.

K.G. Meena, the additional superintendent of police (headquarters), and Chandan Das, the deputy superintendent of police, were at the inaugural event.

According to police sources, each squad will be headed by a woman sub-inspector of police and have three women constables.

“They would be armed and would assist girls and women whenever needed. Also, any woman seeking assistance can dial 100 or 112 and the pink patrol van will immediately rush to the spot. The idea is to enhance the security of women,” said a police officer.

Similarly, the Kalimpong district police launched “pink patrol”, an initiative that the Bengal police have taken to extend assistance to women through their women police personnel.

Shrihari Pandey, the superintendent of police, and Balasubramanian T., the district magistrate, launched the mobile van at a function held at Thana Dara, a prominent crossing in the hill town.

“It will also be an all-women squad. The squad will patrol in and around Kalimpong town. In due course, similar squads would be introduced in Gorubathan and some other locations of the district,” said Pandey.