The Siliguri Metropolitan Police will introduce “Pink Patrol” — all women squads in and around Siliguri during the upcoming Durga Puja to ensure the safety and security of women.

C. Sudhakar, the police commissioner, said: “We will introduce ‘Pink Patrol’ during the Durga Puja here as a special safety arrangement for female pandal hoppers. Two all-women squads will patrol two zones (east and west) of the police commissionerate.”

Sources said the police are yet to finalize the composition of these squads. “It will be decided soon and the concerned women staff will be intimated,” said a police officer.

Added to these two new patrolling units, the “Winners” team — the all-women patrolling squad of Siliguri Metropolitan Police who move on bikes — will also be engaged extensively during the festivities.

“The idea is to ensure the safety of girls and women who go out on pandal hopping and for entertainment in the puja days. Some other initiatives would be taken to keep vigil across the police commissionerate to prevent any crime and for crowd management,” said a source.

These initiatives include the installation of CCTV cameras in all major puja pandals, the deployment of police personnel in plain clothes and the engagement of drones for aerial surveillance. “There will be 22 police assistance booths in and around the city,” the source added.

Altogether, 619 pujas are being held in the Siliguri Metropolitan Police area.

The Trinamool-run Siliguri Municipal Corporation is making arrangements for the Durga Puja Carnival, which will be held here on October 14.

On Friday, Gautam Deb, the mayor, held a preparatory meeting with the police and puja organisers at the Dinabandhu Mancha.