Women Safety Exposed as 40 Men Harass IPS Officer in Midnight Undercover Operation in Hyderabad

Hyderabad, May 2026 : In a shocking revelation on women’s safety in public spaces, newly-appointed Malkajgiri Police Commissioner B. Sumathi faced harassment from nearly 40 men within minutes during a bold undercover operation conducted past midnight in the city.

The senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officer stood alone on the streets of Dilsukhnagar after midnight, posing as an ordinary woman to assess the ground reality of women’s safety during late hours. The exercise was conducted as part of a field-level inspection to understand the risks faced by women in public areas.

According to police officials, Sumathi waited at a bus stand when, within a few minutes, a large group of men allegedly surrounded her and began harassing her. Many of them were reportedly under the influence of alcohol and made vulgar remarks and inappropriate advances.

Police teams, who were strategically deployed nearby as part of the planned operation, immediately intervened and detained all the individuals involved. However, after counselling and issuing strict warnings, the men were released.

The incident has once again highlighted serious concerns over the safety of women in public spaces, particularly during night hours in urban areas.

Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate, one of the four commissionerates under the Greater Hyderabad region, carried out the operation as part of an initiative to send a strong message against harassment and strengthen policing measures.

Sumathi, who recently assumed charge as Malkajgiri Police Commissioner, undertook this decoy operation barely a week after her posting. This is not the first time she has engaged in such field-level enforcement activity. As a young DSP, she had earlier conducted a similar undercover operation near Kazipet railway station.

An officer of the 2006 IPS batch, Sumathi began her career as a Group-1 DSP in 2001 before joining the IPS and steadily rising through the ranks. She has served in several key positions across intelligence and law enforcement divisions.

Before her current posting, she served as Inspector General of Police in the Special Intelligence Bureau, where she was widely appreciated for her role in facilitating Maoist surrenders through dialogue-based initiatives.

Officials said she played a significant role in the surrender of 591 Maoists over a two-year period and was also involved in negotiations leading to the surrender of senior Maoist leader Tippiri Tirupati, also known as Devuji.

Police sources said the recent midnight operation reflects her hands-on policing approach and aims to strengthen preventive action against harassment cases while improving public safety in sensitive urban zones.