Karnataka has just 8.9% women in police force, far behind Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu: Study
Bengaluru: Karnataka has only 8.91% women in its police force, significantly lower than the national average of 12.73%, and is trailing far behind states like Bihar (23.66%), Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, according to a study by the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru.
The findings, reported by The Hindu on Saturday, reveal a stark gender gap in the state’s policing system, despite a 25% reservation for women in the force. The NLSIU project study, which surveyed 202 police stations across eight districts, found that nearly two-thirds of these stations had no woman officers in key investigative ranks such as Sub-Inspector (SI), Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), or Police Inspector (PI). Only three stations — two in Mysuru and one in Davangere — had a woman PI, two of which were designated women’s police stations. Additionally, 130 of the 202 stations had no woman SI at all.
Karnataka’s journey toward gender representation has been marked by uneven progress. In 2007, women constituted 5.44% of the police force. This figure rose modestly to over 6% by 2016, but dipped again to 5% in 2017 — the same year the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) flagged the gender shortfall. In response, the state introduced a 20% quota for women, later increased to 25% in 2020. Despite this, the representation has barely crossed 8% as of 2021, and stands at just 8.91% in 2023.
According to the Karnataka Administrative Reforms Commission (KARC), at the current pace of recruitment and promotion, it will take over 25 years for the state to meet its own target, added The Hindu.
In contrast, states such as Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu have demonstrated consistent progress, with women's representation in their police forces now exceeding 20%. Karnataka, however, has continued to fall short of the national average since 2012, widening the gap each year.
The study also highlighted that women police personnel, despite contributing significantly to routine police duties, are often excluded from core responsibilities such as investigations, including those involving sexual assault. Instead, they are used for token appearances, such as accompanying survivors or being present during statements.
Devyani Srivastava, Senior Manager (Research) and project lead at NLSIU, mentioned that achieving gender parity is not merely a constitutional requirement, but also an operational imperative. “A police institution with diverse skill sets and lived experiences is better equipped to respond to safety challenges of today. While increasing the share of policewomen is a crucial first step, ensuring gender-responsive policies, facilities, training and infrastructure, at all levels, must go hand in hand for meaningful outcomes,” The Hindu quoted her as saying.
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Man sets fire to gas cylinder on truck in Kerala's Kottayam, held
Kottayam(Kerala) (PTI): A 33-year-old man climbed onto a parked truck carrying cooking gas cylinders and set fire to one of them near Thalayolaparambu in the small hours of Saturday, police said.
The incident occurred around 12.30 am, they said.
The fire and rescue personnel soon arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire, averting a major disaster.
According to police, the man is suspected to be under mental distress as he claimed that he was walking from Ernakulam to his home in Marangattupilly here when he saw the truck on the roadside.
An FIR under sections 329(3)(criminal trespass),324(2)(mischief),326(f)(mischief by injury, inundation, fire or explosive substance) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita was lodged against him.
Police said that the man was formally arrested, but will be released on station bail as the offences he is accused of are bailable.
"His family is here at the station and he will be released to them," the officer said.
In the FIR, police have said that the man opened the seal of one of the gas cylinders and set fire to it with the knowledge that his act was dangerous to those living in the area.
According to the company transporting the cooking gas cylinders, it suffered a loss of Rs 2,300 in the incident.
