Chennai: Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Monday announced that 2,546 new posts had been created for the Singappen Special Task Force, a dedicated police unit established to strengthen the safety of women and children across Tamil Nadu.
Replying to the debate on demands for grants for the Police, Fire and Rescue Services departments in the Assembly, CM Vijay said the force had been equipped with 327 four-wheelers, 109 two-wheelers and modern equipment costing Rs 357 crore.
The task force has so far registered 268 criminal cases and safely rescued 125 missing women and children, reuniting them with their families.
It has also conducted 37,150 awareness programmes and prevented 21 child marriages, he said.
CM Vijay said the government’s objective was not merely to respond after offences occurred but to prevent crimes and create an environment in which women could live without fear.
Protecting women and children remained one of the administration’s most important responsibilities, he added.
Describing the police as the foundation of peace and development, the Chief Minister said industrial investment and economic progress depended on the maintenance of effective law and order.
The police should be an adversary to those who refused to respect the law, he said.
On narcotics, CM Vijay said 65 anti-drug squads had been deployed across 37 districts and nine commissionerates.
Police had registered 3,263 cases under anti-narcotics laws and arrested 4,350 people.
Authorities also seized 4,846 kg of ganja and 116,159 narcotic tablets.
He said dismantling drug-trafficking networks and protecting young people from addiction were central priorities, while cautioning that eradicating the entrenched drug problem would require sustained action beyond the government’s first 100 days.
Addressing corruption, CM Vijay said enforcement agencies had been directed to carry out their statutory duties without hesitation.
The government would not compromise in its action against corruption, regardless of the position of those involved.
The Chief Minister also promised stronger safeguards against deaths in police custody.
Every such death must be investigated transparently, impartially and according to law, with post-mortem examinations, magisterial enquiries and reporting conducted under National Human Rights Commission guidelines.
Police personnel found responsible for wrongdoing would receive no institutional protection, he said.
CCTV surveillance, medical examinations, technology-based monitoring, professional training and accountability mechanisms would be further strengthened to prevent custodial deaths and preserve public confidence in the police throughout the entire state.
(IANS)
