160 women-friendly police stations to be opened

Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 18 (PTI): Kerala Home MinisterKodiyeri Balakrishnan today said 160 new women-friendly policestations, attached to circle inspectors'' stations, would beopened in the state.

Replying to questions in the assembly, he said a systemwould also be introduced with the help of Social WelfareDepartment to give legal advice from women advocates to thoseapproaching these stations.

The Jana Maithri'' scheme of the police would be extendedto 100 more police stations. Steps were being taken to fillthe existing 1,200 vacancies in the police force which wouldmake it a zero vacancy'' force, he said.

The government was considering setting up of a newVigilance Court to dispose off cases in a time-bound manner.

The Vigilance department had registered 724 cases in the lastfive years, he said.