Chennai, June 9:
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Tuesday launched the Singappen Task Force, a dedicated police unit aimed at preventing crimes against women and children, and said drug abuse has emerged as the primary factor behind most offences committed against women and girls in society.
Inaugurating the new force at the Rajarathinam Stadium in Egmore, Vijay said the State government was committed to creating a safer environment for women through preventive policing, stronger law enforcement and faster delivery of justice. He stressed that tackling the growing drug menace was essential to reducing crimes against women.
Addressing police personnel and officials, the Chief Minister said narcotics had become a major social threat and were responsible for a large number of crimes involving women and girls. He noted that the problem had been allowed to grow over the years and called for decisive action to eliminate it at its roots.
Vijay warned that offenders involved in crimes against women would face stringent action and assured that police would ensure speedy investigations, prompt filing of charge sheets and effective prosecution. At the same time, he instructed law enforcement agencies to act fairly and ensure that innocent people were not wrongly implicated in criminal cases.
The Chief Minister announced that the government had allocated ₹354 crore for the implementation of the task force. He said the initiative was designed not only to respond to crimes after they occur but also to prevent such incidents through continuous monitoring, intervention and public outreach.
The formation of the Singappen Task Force was among Vijay’s first major decisions after assuming office on May 10. The government subsequently appointed IG K. Bhavaneeswari to head the specialised unit and introduced a distinct uniform and insignia for its personnel.
Senior officers, including SPs, DSPs, Inspectors and Assistant Inspectors, have been deployed in the force. Vijay also announced a second phase of expansion under which 2,500 additional posts would be created, significantly enhancing the task force’s presence and operational capacity across Tamil Nadu.
