Moved by ghastly incident of ‘Gudia’ gangrape and murder case in Kotkhai area of Shimla in July 2017, the Himachal Pradesh government launched ‘Shakti App’ for the safety of women. The Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on Friday evening launched a toll free Gudia help line number 1515.

Any women at the time of any trouble can press the red button of the App. The App is designed by National Informatics Centre (NIC) Himachal Pradesh for the Police.

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State Informatics Officer, Ajay Singh Chahal informed that the App is both in Hindi and English language and does not require internet connectivity.

On hard shake, if any, during scuffle the App would send the location of GPS to the sender.

Even if the phone drops down the message would be sent to the nearest police control room and within 20 seconds.

The Shakti App will also do auto audio and video recording.

The CM also launched the ‘Gudia’ help line number 1515 and ‘Hoshiyar Singh’ helpline on toll free number 1090.

The Chief Minister himself talked on both the toll free numbers of Gudia and Hoshiar Singh help lines and congratulated the state Police department and the State NIC Department for the initiative.

He said that it was an initiative for protection of women of the state and to control crime against women.

“It was unfortunate that the image of the Police was damaged in the infamous Gudia rape and murder case, and we want to ensure that such incidents don’t happen in Himachal Pradesh again,” he said.

The Chief Minister said that Hoshiyar Help line would be monitored by CM office.

Director General of Police, SR Mardi detailed in brief the working of the Apps and said that besides these other emergency helpline numbers were 9459100100 ( a WhatsApp number), SMS number is 9459100100 and Nationwide Emergency Response System (NERS) Call number is 112.

It is pertinent to mention that ‘Gudia’ case in July 2017 involved alleged rape and murder of a 16 year old school girl in Kotkhai area of Shimla. Her body was recovered two days later from a forest area. After much public protest, six persons were arrested in the case. One of the accused was later killed in Police custody- which finally led to the arrest of nine cops, including a then Inspector General of Police ( who headed the Special Investigation team) a Superintendent of Police posted in Shimla at the time of the incident for custodial death. The CBI probe into the two cases, of rape and murder and custodial death, is still on under direct monitoring by HP high Court.

The Hoshiyar Singh case pertains to the mysterious death of forest guard, Hoshiyar Singh in Mandi district last year, which is also under probe by CBI.