By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 2 Sep: Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Dehradun, Ajai Singh today held a media conference at which he strongly refuted the claims made by a NARI-2025 Survey report that Dehradun is among the ten most unsafe cities for women.
It may be recalled that Dehradun has been controversially listed among the ten most unsafe cities in India by the private survey company P Value Analytics in its NARI-2025 survey report, drawing sharp criticism from both the State and National Women’s Commissions, which have claimed that the survey has neither been conducted under their aegis nor commissioned by any government agency.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajai Singh, while citing facts, stated that the survey included thirty-one cities across the country and used CATI (Computer Assisted Telephonic Interviews) and CAPI (Computer Assisted Personal Interviews) methods. This means that the conclusions were drawn from telephonic conversations with only 12,770 women, without direct face-to-face interaction. In a city with nearly nine lakh female residents, a sample of only 400 women was surveyed. According to him, drawing conclusions about the safety of the entire city from such a small sample is inappropriate.
SSP Ajai Singh emphasised that no one has the right to tarnish Dehradun’s image, adding that NCRB data shows crime rates in Dehradun are significantly lower than in metropolitan cities of the country. He further noted that the presence of renowned central institutions and the large student and tourist population from across the country and abroad continue to enjoy a safe environment in the city.
Singh asserted that recent data underlines the reality of safety in Dehradun. In August, a total of 12,354 complaints were registered via dial-112, of which only 18 per cent (2,287) pertained to women. Of these, 1,664 were domestic disputes, while cases of molestation or sexual assault numbered only eleven, less than one per cent. He also asserted that the average police response time was 13.33 minutes. He reminded that, for women’s safety, the city has thirteen ‘Gaura Cheeta’ vehicles, pink booths, one-stop centres, women’s helplines and help desks, as well as regular self-defence training camps. The Smart City control room and police network monitor over 14,000 CCTV cameras round the clock. The Dehradun Police App, Gaura Shakti App, which has over 1.25 lakh registrations, and the CM Helpline are actively used by women.
He also asserted that, while the NARI-2025 report has raised several questions, it has not specified the age, education, employment status, or residence of participants, nor it has clarified whether local residents, tourists, or out-of-state students were included in the sample survey. Singh claimed that using the same sample size across cities ignores cultural and geographical diversity, and comparing Dehradun to metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, which have vastly different social environments, is misleading.
The Police as well as the State Women’s Commission also asserted that the survey’s methodological limitations include the fact that only 4 per cent of women reportedly used apps or technology services, whereas the Gaura Shakti App in Dehradun alone has 16,649 registered users, illustrating the disparity between perception and actual usage.
Two parameters in the survey relate to policing: police patrolling and crime rate. Dehradun scored 33 per cent in police patrolling, higher than Kohima, which the report listed as the safest city with 11 per cent. Under the heading ‘Harassment at Public Places’, Dehradun scored six per cent, indicating women in the city feel comparatively safer than in other cities, contrary to the survey. The high-crime rate cited in the report for Dehradun at 18 per cent is not corroborated by facts.
SSP Singh also pointed out that Dehradun currently hosts around 70,000 students from outside the state, of which 43 per cent are female, including a significant number of foreign students. They reside in the city safely while pursuing their education. At the district and police station levels, women’s help lines and help desks are operational, along with SOS buttons in the Uttarakhand Police App. The city also has one-stop centres, thirteen ‘Gaura Cheeta’ vehicles staffed by trained female police personnel, and pink booths in crowded areas. Self-defence training camps for women are regularly conducted, and police continue to hold safety workshops at educational and work institutions where women are employed.
Singh also claimed that the women are being sensitised about crimes against them and are being encouraged to report incidents promptly. All the police stations have been instructed to register complaints immediately and resolve them expeditiously. He also pointed out that, in 2025, all incidents of rape, molestation, and snatching were fully addressed.
According to the police, Dehradun’s integrated Smart City control room, along with police control room cameras and over 14,000 CCTV cameras, provides continuous surveillance of criminal activities. All the cameras have been mapped on Google for real-time monitoring. He asserted that in view of these facts, it can be stated that ranking Dehradun among the ten most unsafe cities based on an independent survey with limited methodological clarity is unjustified. The survey has not clarified who participated, their demographic or employment status, or whether they were locals or tourists. Safety perceptions vary with age and lifestyle, and visitors unfamiliar with the city may assess security differently. He added that comparisons with cities like Mumbai, which have vibrant nightlife, are inappropriate for a relatively calm city like Dehradun.
The Police also shared that the official data and NCRB statistics consistently demonstrate that the crime rates in Dehradun are lower than those of major metropolitan areas. The city remains home to prestigious central institutions, renowned educational establishments, and tourist destinations that attract large numbers throughout the year. The growing presence of students and tourists further attests to Dehradun as a safe city for residents and visitors alike. The Women’s Commission also reiterated that while survey results are respected, strong methodology is essential for policymaking, and clarity regarding scales, sampling, question framing, and definitions of safety is imperative.
