Dial 100 jammed with complaints of domestic violence after liquor shops’ reopening

HYDERABAD: After being harassed by her alcoholic husband for four consecutive days, Mancherial district resident Swathi (name changed) finally dialled 100 and reached out to the cops, when her husband threatened to kill her in a drunken state.
She told the cops later that her husband had been doing well during the lockdown, when there was no access to alcohol.The torture started after wine shops re-opened. Police authorities and activists say Swathi’s case isn’t a one-off.
“During the lockdown, the ‘dial 100’ calls related to domestic violence were about 100 per day from across the state. The calls rose to 500 to 600 a day when liquor shops re-opened in the state in May,” said Mamatha Raghuveer, founder of Tharuni NGO, who works closely with the Telangana police’s Women Safety Wing.
Among those who bore the brunt of it was Kanika (name changed) from Kamareddy district who reached out to cops for help, when her husband started hurling abuses at her and their three kids. She alleged that her husband stole her gold ornaments to buy liquor and consumed alcohol for five consecutive days soon after the liquor shops re-opened.
Speaking to TOI, Swati Lakra Additional DGP of Women Safety Wing said the three commissionerates in Hyderabad and Warangal district received the highest number of distress calls from domestic violence victims. “We urge victims to reach out to cops and dial 100, as the patrolling vehicles will be sent for their rescue. In some of the districts, we have a separate patrolling vehicle that will reach the spot to help such victims,” added Lakra.
The police even roped in 20 psychologists to support the victims of domestic violence and provide free-of-cost video or phone counselling.