College girls in distress would now be able to call police from their respective institutes.

The cops have planned to set up telephone counters near the gates of all women's colleges in the city. These phones would provide the facility of dialling the police control room number - 100 - in case any girl needs assistance.

The step has been mooted in wake of the recent incident at Patna Women's College where a case of an alleged sexual harassment of girls by a teacher came to light.

The plan assumes significance, as most of the women's colleges don't allow cellphones on their respective campuses making it tough for girls to call for help in hour of need.

Patna senior superintendent of police (SSP) Vikas Vaibhav told The Telegraph on Wednesday that the telephones would only have the dial 100 facility and students in distress or in any kind of trouble could call up the cops.

"The police plan to install a landline phone which will only have the dial 100 facility outside the main gates of the college in Patna meant for girls. The details are being worked out and the police believe that the phones would serve as a confidence booster for girls. They would know that the police are always with them," the senior officer said.

"The police plan to take the help of some independent bodies and non-government organisations towards making the plan a success. If they are willing, they can set up the telephone in coordination with the police. If not, the police will do it. In connection with the absconding teacher of the PWC, the police would be putting up his pictures now and also print advertisements against him," the SSP pointed out.

The important colleges meant for women in the city include the Patna Women's College, Magadh Mahila College, JD Women's College, Arvind Mahila College, Ganga Devi Mahila College, Women's Teachers Training College and others.

The girls, naturally, hailed the move of the police.

"The telephone meant for us through which we can contact only the police is a good move and shows that the cops care for the girls here. The phone would be of more help for those girls who want to report something against their own college and for which they cannot use the college phone as one or the other employee always remain present near such phones," said Sunita Sinha, a student of Magadh Mahila College.

Assault case

In connection with the absconding teacher of Patna Women's College, the SSP said the police would put up his pictures now and also print advertisements against him.

Last week, the teacher was dismissed after his name figured in a complaint, accusing him of sexual harassment of students.

The sexual harassment charge against the teacher came to light on September 15 when some of the students spread the message on the case using social media.

Students of mass communication department of the college and their parents had approached the head of the department and the principal complaining about the teacher.

Police have sought a detailed report from the Patna Women's College administration on the action it took against the teacher accused of sexual harassment because of conflicting accounts.

While the college has claimed to have removed the teacher, his father has told officers that his son resigned from the institution after the controversy surfaced.

On Tuesday, calls made by this correspondent to Patna Women's College principal Marie Jessie went unanswered, while the teacher's family had politely refused to speak on the matter.