Chennai, June 13 (IANS) Tamil Nadu’s newly launched Singappen Special Task Force has come under criticism after a video of a woman police officer attached to the unit in Tirupur went viral on social media, with many users accusing the force of promoting victim‑blaming instead of focusing on crimes against women.

In the video, the officer is seen addressing a group of women and saying that women should “correct their mistakes” to ensure their own safety.

She is heard saying that there were “a lot of mistakes on our part too” and that if women corrected themselves, they could stand their ground and question those who did wrong.

The remarks triggered sharp reactions online, with several users questioning what the officer meant by “our mistakes” and arguing that such statements placed responsibility on women rather than on those who commit crimes.

Critics said the comments appeared inconsistent with the objectives of a force established to protect women and improve public safety.

Some social media users described the remarks as moral policing, while others said they reflected a victim‑blaming mindset.

One user sarcastically commented that the funds allocated for the initiative were being spent on advising women how to behave rather than addressing the root causes of violence against them.

Others argued that women should not be made to feel responsible for preventing crimes committed by offenders.

The controversy has also prompted calls for better gender‑sensitisation training for personnel deployed under the task force.

Several users said officers entrusted with addressing crimes against women should be trained to communicate in a manner that does not inadvertently shift blame onto victims.

Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay launched the Singappen Special Task Force on June 9 as a flagship initiative aimed at enhancing women’s safety and curbing crimes against women across Tamil Nadu.

The women‑only patrol force has been designed to strengthen surveillance, increase outreach among women and provide rapid intervention in cases involving women and children.

The project has been allocated Rs 354.67 crore and currently operates through 70 field units across the State.

The government plans to expand the initiative to 270 units with a sanctioned strength of 2,545 personnel in the coming years.

The viral video, however, has sparked a debate over how the force engages with the public and the message it seeks to convey regarding women’s safety.

–IANS

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