Hyderabad Woman Police Commissioner Goes Undercover, Approached By 40 Men In 3 Hours
Hyderabad Woman Police Commissioner Goes Undercover, Approached By 40 Men In 3 Hours
Hyderabad, May 7, 2026: In a unique initiative to assess women’s safety on city streets, Sumathi, the Commissioner of Police of Malkajgiri in Hyderabad, reportedly went undercover late at night and spent nearly three hours alone at a bus stop to understand the challenges faced by women travelling after midnight.
According to officials, the senior IPS officer disguised herself as an ordinary woman and carried out the operation between 12:30 am and 3:30 am without any visible police security or official convoy. The exercise was aimed at observing real ground-level conditions instead of relying solely on complaints, reports, or statistics.
During the undercover operation, nearly 40 men reportedly approached her while she was waiting at the bus stop. Police sources said some of the men appeared intoxicated, while others were suspected to be under the influence of ganja.
Officials stated that most of the individuals were young men, including students and working professionals, and were unaware that they were interacting with a senior police officer. The operation was conducted to study behavioural patterns and identify the kind of situations women may encounter while travelling alone at night.
After the operation concluded, police reportedly identified the individuals involved. However, instead of filing immediate criminal cases, authorities chose to counsel them and issue strict warnings regarding their conduct towards women in public spaces.
Police officials said the focus of the exercise was corrective action and public awareness rather than punishment.
The initiative has drawn praise from several residents of Hyderabad, particularly women, who appreciated the commissioner for personally stepping into a vulnerable situation to understand safety concerns firsthand. Many social media users described the move as bold and practical policing.
Reports also stated that this was not the first such exercise carried out by Sumathi. Around 25 years ago, during her tenure as a Deputy Superintendent of Police near Kazipet Railway Station, she had reportedly conducted a similar undercover operation focused on women’s safety.
Before taking charge as Malkajgiri Police Commissioner on May 1, Sumathi had served as the chief of the State Intelligence Bureau and was reportedly involved in several major intelligence and anti-Maoist operations in Telangana.
