Bhubaneswar: Following a rise in cases of domestic violence amid COVID-19 lockdown, the Odisha State Commission for Women on Thursday issued a WhatsApp helpline number (8763543013) to make it easy for the victims to access it.
On Wednesday, the Women & Child Development Department has launched a WhatsApp number 7205006039 for reporting cases of domestic violence. It already has a women’s helpline number 181.
Following a directive from Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to deal with such cases on priority and sternly, DGP Abhay had asked victims of domestic violence not to visit the police stations and instead call the helpline telephone number of the police station and district control room.
“After receiving the call, police will reach the spot/home to collect complaints/FIR and take necessary action. Victims of domestic violence can also approach police through Odisha Police Citizen Portal or Sahayata Mobile app,” he had said.
