Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay inaugurated the Singappen all-women police unit in Chennai on June 9 [1].

The launch of this specialized force represents a strategic shift toward proactive policing to protect women and children. By creating a dedicated wing of female officers, the government intends to lower barriers for victims reporting crimes and increase the presence of women in high-risk enforcement roles.

The event took place at Rajarathinam Stadium, where the chief minister said the mission of the unit [2]. The force, referred to as both a Special Strike Force and a Special Task Force [3, 4], is designed to operate as a dedicated wing for women's safety [5]. This follows an official order to establish the unit signed on May 11 [6].

A primary objective of the Singappen force is the eradication of drug trafficking. The administration said that drug abuse must be eliminated to ensure the robust safety of women, citing a link between narcotics and crimes against women [2]. To modernize these efforts, the government plans to integrate drone technology to prevent crimes and monitor vulnerable areas [7].

This initiative focuses on a dual-track approach: immediate response and long-term prevention. The all-women composition is intended to make the police force more approachable for women while maintaining the tactical capabilities of a strike force. The government said that targeting the drug trade is essential to reducing the overall rate of violence against women and children in the state [2].

“The Singappen all-women police unit is designed to operate as a dedicated wing for women's safety.”

The creation of the Singappen force signals a move toward gender-specific policing in Tamil Nadu, acknowledging that the presence of female officers can improve reporting rates and victim trust. By explicitly linking drug eradication to women's safety, the state is treating substance abuse not just as a public health issue, but as a primary driver of gender-based violence.