Hyderabad police commissioner goes undercover for 3 hours

A bold experiment exposes the grim reality of women’s safety on city streets at night.

In an unconventional initiative to access women’s safety in urban public places, IPS officer B. Sumathi- the newly appointed commissioner of police, Malkajgiri went undercover at midnight at a bus stop in Hyderabad. The exercise was conducted around 12;30 AM to 3:30 AM.

What she did

Sumathi posed as an ordinary woman in a simple salwar suit and stood alone at the Dilsukhnagar bus stand, without any visible police deployment or security cover. The aim was to experience firsthand what many women endure while traveling alone at night- an anxiety that often remain hidden behind official complaints and crime statistics.

What happened

Groups of men approached her in three hours period, with several alleged under the influence of drugs or alcohol, passing vulgar comments and making advances. The men- mostly young, including students and employees, were completely clueless they were speaking to a senior officer.

A group of alleged miscreants reportedly surrounded her and made obscene remarks, including “will you come? and what is your rate?”

The Aftermath

Around 40 people from the area were later detained by the Telangana police. Instead of immediately registering criminal cases authority taken some corrective measures- calling the men for counselling sessions, issuing strict warning regarding public behavior, and sensitising them about women’s safety and respect in public spaces.

Who is Commissioner Sumathi?

Before taking charge as a commissioner of Malkajgiri on May 1, Sumathi had already built a strong reputation. A high-ranking officer in Telangana police force, she previously led the State Intelligence Bureau (SIB) and played a crucial role in convincing several high -level Maoist leaders, including Devuji, to surrender their arms.

This was not Sumathi’s first undercover operation. 25 years ago, during her initial career as deputy Superintendent of police near kazipet railway station, she has operated a similar experiment to access women’s safety.

Public reaction

The experiment has sparked widespread appreciation, particularly among women, many of whom described it is a rare example of leadership that rooted with empathy.