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Women's helpline and protection from domestic violence

Which number to call first, and how to reach the AP Police Shakthi services, the One Stop Centre, protection under the domestic violence law and free legal aid.

About this guidePending verification

Published on 12-11-2026. Not every fact has been checked against its official source yet: confirm at the office.

Where:By phoneOnlineAt the office

For whom: Women in Andhra Pradesh facing violence or harassment, and the family, friends or neighbours helping them.

In an emergency, call at once

112Emergency helpline: police (toll-free)181Women Helpline (free, 24 hours)

1Your situation

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What is happening?
Who are you?

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2Documents you need

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  • Details

    If you don't have it: The form is in the Domestic Violence Rules, 2006. The Protection Officer helps prepare it, and must read it out and explain it to a woman who cannot read.

    Sources: 15

    3Your steps

    · Do them in order. Tick each one when it is done.

    If something goes wrong
    1. Do this now

      If there is danger right now, call 112.

      It is a toll-free number.

      Where
      By phone
      Fee
      Free

      Sources: 1, 2

    2. Do this now

      If the danger is not immediate but you need help, call 181.

      It is free and works 24 hours a day. They connect you, as needed, to the police, the One Stop Centre, a hospital or the Legal Services Authority.

      Where
      By phone
      Fee
      Free · Toll-free number

      Sources: 2, 11, 12, 13

    3. Do this now

      You can call 181 yourself on her behalf.

      Tell them what is happening and where she is.

      Where
      By phone

      Sources: 11

    4. Do this now

      You can send a WhatsApp message to the AP Police Shakthi team at 7993485111.

      Where
      Shakthi WhatsApp, AP Police

      Sources: 4, 1

    5. Do this now

      If you have already registered and are logged in on the AP Police women's safety site, you can press its 'Shakthi Emergency SOS' button.

      With your phone's location turned on, it sends your location to the Shakthi team and the nearest Shakthi patrol unit is alerted. If you are not logged in, or it fails, call 112.

      Where
      Shakthi Emergency SOS, AP Police
      Open the official page
      Not confirmed

      We took this address from the police portal's own script. The address answered on 11 November 2026; we did not see what the page shows after login.

      Sources: 3

    6. Do this now

      Go to the One Stop Centre in your district (if you are helping her, you can take her there).

      It gives medical help, police assistance, legal aid and counselling in one place.

      Where
      One Stop Centre (district)
      Not confirmed

      The Andhra Pradesh Women Development and Child Welfare Department's website did not open for us, so we could not see the addresses of the centres in the state. Call 181 and ask for your district centre's address.

      Sources: 11, 12

    7. Do this now

      A woman with no safe place to stay can ask the One Stop Centre for temporary shelter for up to 5 days, with her daughters of any age and her sons up to 12.

      The Centre Administrator decides on admission.

      Where
      One Stop Centre (district)

      Sources: 11

    8. Do this now

      After logging in with your mobile number on the AP Police women's safety site, the 'Night Shelters' page shows safe shelters for women in your district, with the address, the officer and a phone number.

      Where
      Night Shelters, AP Police
      Open the official page
      Not confirmed

      The page loads the list from the portal's server when it opens; we did not see the list itself. We took this address from the police portal's own script. The address answered on 11 November 2026; we did not see what the page shows after login.

      Sources: 6

    9. Do this now

      To get to a safe place at night, you can log in on the AP Police women's safety site and make a 'Night Drop' request.

      They send a vehicle to where you are to drop you at a place such as the One Stop Centre.

      Where
      Night Drop Request, AP Police
      Open the official page
      Not confirmed

      We took this address from the police portal's own script. The address answered on 11 November 2026; we did not see what the page shows after login.

      Sources: 7

    10. Do this now

      You can give the complaint (FIR) at any police station, wherever it happened.

      For rape, sexual harassment, stalking and similar offences, what the woman says must be written down by a woman police officer or a woman officer. A copy of the FIR must be given at once, free.

      Where
      Police station

      Sources: 18, 19

    11. Do this now

      After logging in with your mobile number on the AP Police women's safety site, you can send a complaint through its 'File a Complaint' form.

      The form asks for the district, the place, a description, your name, mobile number and an ID proof number, and an evidence or supporting document to upload (PNG, JPG or PDF, up to 10 MB).

      Where
      File a Complaint, AP Police
      Open the official page
      Not confirmed

      We took this address from the police portal's own script. The address answered on 11 November 2026; we did not see what the page shows after login.

      Sources: 5

    12. Do this now

      Tell the Protection Officer for your area what happened, by word of mouth or in writing.

      They must give you a copy of what they wrote down, at once and free. Whoever receives the complaint (police, Protection Officer, service provider or Magistrate) must tell the woman of her rights, including the right to free legal services.

      Where
      Protection Officer (domestic violence law)
      Not confirmed

      The AP Police portal names G.O.Ms.22 on appointing Protection Officers, but we could not read that order or any official page saying who Andhra Pradesh's Protection Officers are or where they sit. Ask 181 or the One Stop Centre for your area's Protection Officer.

      Sources: 14, 15, 11, 8

    13. Do this now

      If you know violence has happened, is happening or is likely, you can tell the Protection Officer yourself.

      You face no civil or criminal case for giving the information in good faith. You can also present the application to the Magistrate on her behalf.

      Where
      Protection Officer (domestic violence law)

      Sources: 14, 15

    14. Do this now

      In an emergency, tell the Protection Officer by phone or email.

      They must go to the place with the police, write the report and take it to the Magistrate without delay.

      Where
      Protection Officer (domestic violence law)

      Sources: 15

    15. Do this now

      The Protection Officer writes a Domestic Incident Report (Form I), gives it to the Magistrate and sends copies to the police station and the service providers.

      If the woman asks, a registered service provider can also write this report.

      Where
      Protection Officer (domestic violence law)

      Sources: 14, 15

    16. Do this now

      You can apply to the Magistrate (Form II) for a protection order, a residence order, money, custody of the children or compensation.

      The Protection Officer must help you prepare and send it. The Magistrate can give an interim order, and where needed an order on the woman's sworn statement (affidavit) before hearing the other side.

      Where
      Magistrate's court
      Time limit
      The first hearing is ordinarily within 3 days of the court receiving the application. The Magistrate must try to decide within 60 days of the first hearing.

      Sources: 14, 15

    17. Do this now

      If the woman asks, the Protection Officer or a service provider asks a shelter home in writing, and the home must give her shelter.

      It may not refuse because there is no incident report. If she wishes, it must not tell the person she complained about that she is there.

      Where
      Shelter home

      Sources: 14, 15

    18. Do this now

      If the woman is hurt, the Protection Officer gets her medically examined.

      The hospital must give medical aid and may not refuse because there is no incident report. It must give her a copy of the medical report free.

      Where
      Hospital

      Sources: 14, 15

    19. Do this now

      The One Stop Centre gives medical aid and police assistance.

      Ask there for help with the medical examination and the police complaint (FIR).

      Where
      One Stop Centre (district)

      Sources: 11, 12

    20. Do this now

      For a free lawyer, contact the District Legal Services Authority or the Mandal Legal Services Committee.

      By law a woman is entitled to free legal services: advice, a lawyer in court, and costs such as the court fee.

      Where
      District Legal Services Authority / Mandal Legal Services Committee
      Fee
      Free

      Sources: 9, 10, 14

    21. Do this now

      You can also apply for free legal aid online on the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) portal, and track the application there.

      Where
      NALSA Legal Services portal
      Fee
      Free
      Open the official page

      Sources: 16, 9

    22. Do this now

      You can also call the legal services helpline 15100 (toll-free).

      Where
      By phone
      Fee
      Free

      Sources: 17, 9

    If something goes wrong

    If it is rejectedIf you get no help at the police station, you can send a complaint through the 'File a Complaint' form on the AP Police women's safety site (login needed).

    If you get no help at the police station, you can send a complaint through the 'File a Complaint' form on the AP Police women's safety site (login needed). If a police station refuses to record the FIR, the law lets you send the complaint in writing, by post, to the Superintendent of Police, and after that apply to the Magistrate (BNSS section 173(4)). In an emergency, call 112.

    File a Complaint, AP Police women's safety site · Open the official page

    Sources: 5, 18, 1

    AlsoIf the person breaks a protection order, report it to the Protection Officer in writing, signed, or complain directly to the police or the Magistrate.

    If the person breaks a protection order, report it to the Protection Officer in writing, signed, or complain directly to the police or the Magistrate. A breach is dealt with as a cognizable offence (one for which the police can arrest without a warrant), and if the woman asks for help the Protection Officer must rescue her at once with the local police.

    The Protection Officer, or the police (112)

    112

    Sources: 15, 18

    Find the office in your district →

    Related guides

    Report a mistake on this page
    The 19 official pages and papers this guide is written from
    1. Andhra Pradesh State Police Services: citizen portal home pageAndhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), citizen services portal, Page header "Emergency Helpline 112"; Shakthi Emergency SOS panel: "Call 112 (Toll Free)", "Women Helpline 181", "Shakthi WhatsApp" (text served from the portal's files /i18n/en.json and /i18n/te.json, keys header.emergencyHelpline and home.sos.*). The portal's script shows the Shakthi panel only on the women and child safety site (womenandchildsafetywing.appolice.gov.in), which the citizen site's menu links · read on 31-10-2026
    2. Shakthi HelplinesAndhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), women and child safety site, List of helplines: Police 112, Child Helpline 1098, Cyber Helpline 1930, Women Helpline 181, Fire 101, Ambulance 108 (numbers in the portal's script main-3CHJCDCL.js; labels under womenSafety.helplines.* in /i18n/en.json and /i18n/te.json). Address: this path in the route table of the portal's script main-3CHJCDCL.js, on the site whose pages that script opens (its guard sends /women-safety-services addresses back to the home page on any site but "womenandchildsafetywing"); the page itself was not seen open. · read on 31-10-2026
    3. Shakthi Emergency SOSAndhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), women and child safety site, "Tap the SOS button to instantly alert the Shakthi Team with your live GPS location for immediate police dispatch"; after sending, the nearest Shakthi patrol unit is alerted (text served from the portal's files /i18n/en.json and /i18n/te.json, keys home.sos.description and home.sos.successMessage). Address: this path in the route table of the portal's script main-3CHJCDCL.js, on the site whose pages that script opens (its guard sends /women-safety-services addresses back to the home page on any site but "womenandchildsafetywing"); the page itself was not seen open. The same table puts the login guard on this page; login is by mobile number and OTP, after a first registration (login.* in /i18n/en.json). The script asks for the phone's location and, when sending fails, shows "Failed to send SOS. Please call 112 directly." · read on 31-10-2026
    4. Shakthi WhatsAppAndhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), women and child safety site, "Connect with AP Police directly through WhatsApp"; the page's button opens wa.me/917993485111 (number in the portal's script main-3CHJCDCL.js). Address: this path in the route table of the portal's script main-3CHJCDCL.js, on the site whose pages that script opens (its guard sends /women-safety-services addresses back to the home page on any site but "womenandchildsafetywing"); the page itself was not seen open. · read on 31-10-2026
    5. File a Complaint (women safety)Andhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), women and child safety site, Form fields: district, subject, place of incident, brief description, petitioner's name, 10-digit mobile number, ID proof type and number, an evidence or supporting document (PNG, JPG or PDF, up to 10 MB) (text served from the portal's files /i18n/en.json and /i18n/te.json, keys womenSafety.petition.*). Address: this path in the route table of the portal's script main-3CHJCDCL.js, on the site whose pages that script opens (its guard sends /women-safety-services addresses back to the home page on any site but "womenandchildsafetywing"); the page itself was not seen open. The same table puts the login guard on this page; login is by mobile number and OTP, after a first registration (login.* in /i18n/en.json). · read on 31-10-2026
    6. Night SheltersAndhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), women and child safety site, "Find safe accommodations for women across districts"; each entry shows the address, the officer and a contact number (text served from the portal's files /i18n/en.json and /i18n/te.json, keys womenSafety.shelters.*). The list itself is loaded from the portal's server when the page opens and was not read. Address: this path in the route table of the portal's script main-3CHJCDCL.js, on the site whose pages that script opens (its guard sends /women-safety-services addresses back to the home page on any site but "womenandchildsafetywing"); the page itself was not seen open. The same table puts the login guard on this page; login is by mobile number and OTP, after a first registration (login.* in /i18n/en.json). · read on 31-10-2026
    7. Night Drop RequestAndhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), women and child safety site, "A vehicle will be dispatched to your current location to safely drop you at the selected destination"; destinations: Onestop Center, Safety Places, Others (text served from the portal's files /i18n/en.json and /i18n/te.json, keys womenSafety.nightDrop.*). Address: this path in the route table of the portal's script main-3CHJCDCL.js, on the site whose pages that script opens (its guard sends /women-safety-services addresses back to the home page on any site but "womenandchildsafetywing"); the page itself was not seen open. The same table puts the login guard on this page; login is by mobile number and OTP, after a first registration (login.* in /i18n/en.json). · read on 31-10-2026
    8. May I Help You: Women ProtectionAndhra Pradesh Police (Government of Andhra Pradesh), citizen services portal, Table "Summary of Circulars and G.O.s": C.No.2358/CI4/WPC/2008 (Domestic Violence Act instructions, for police officers); G.O.Ms.22 (appointment of Protection Officers, for district authorities). The G.O. itself is not on the page · read on 31-10-2026
    9. Andhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority: home pageAndhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, About APSLSA (free legal aid; District Legal Services Authorities and Mandal Legal Services Committees); links "Legal Aid Portal" and "NALSA Helpline Number 15100 Portal" · read on 31-10-2026
    10. Legal Aid: Eligibility for Legal AidAndhra Pradesh State Legal Services Authority, Section 12 categories: (c) a woman or a child; modes of legal services under Regulation 25 of the A.P. State Legal Services Authority Regulations, 1996 (advice, representation, court fee and other costs). Linked from the authority's Legal Aid page · read on 31-10-2026
    11. Mission Shakti: Guidelines for Implementation (sent with D.O. No. WW-23/1/2021-WW, July 2022)Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, Section 2.1.1 One Stop Centre (services; temporary shelter up to 5 days with girls of any age and boys up to 12, at the Centre Administrator's discretion; list of statutory authorities); section 2.1.2 Women Helpline (toll-free, 24 hours; a woman or somebody on her behalf may call; links to ERSS-112, One Stop Centres, Protection Officers, the NALSA helpline); table of facilities at OSCs and WHL (medical aid, police assistance, legal aid, counselling, temporary shelter) · read on 31-10-2026
    12. Redefining Women's Empowerment in India: A Comprehensive Framework for ProgressPress Information Bureau, Government of India (Ministry of Women and Child Development), One Stop Centres (medical aid, legal aid and advice, temporary shelter, police assistance, psycho-social counselling); Women Helpline (181-WHL): 24x7x365 emergency and non-emergency response on short code 181, linking to police, One Stop Centres, hospitals and Legal Services Authorities (01-02-2025) · read on 31-10-2026
    13. Mission ShaktiMinistry of Women and Child Development, Government of India, Page header "Women Helpline Toll free No. - 181"; FAQs: components of 'Sambal' (One Stop Centres; Women Helplines on short code 181) · read on 31-10-2026
    14. The Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Act, 2005 (No. 43 of 2005)Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department), Government of India (Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1, No. 49); copy on the Ministry of Women and Child Development's website, Sections 4 (anyone may inform the Protection Officer; no liability for information given in good faith), 5 (duty to inform her of her rights, including free legal services), 6 (shelter), 7 (medical aid), 9(1) (duties of the Protection Officer), 10(2) (service providers), 12 (application to the Magistrate by the woman, the Protection Officer or any other person on her behalf; first hearing ordinarily within three days, disposal endeavoured within sixty days), 23 (interim orders; an ex parte order on her affidavit) (14-09-2005) · read on 31-10-2026
    15. G.S.R. 644(E): the Protection of Women from Domestic Violence Rules, 2006Ministry of Women and Child Development, Government of India (Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 3(i)), Rules 4 (information orally or in writing; free copy to the informant), 5 (domestic incident report in Form I), 6 (application in Form II; the Protection Officer helps prepare it), 8(1) (duties of the Protection Officer, including legal aid through the State Legal Services Authority), 9 (emergency: Protection Officer goes with the police), 15 (breach of a protection order), 16 (shelter; identity not disclosed), 17 (medical facility; free copy of the medical report) (17-10-2006) · read on 31-10-2026
    16. Legal Services Management System: Apply Legal AidNational Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Menu: Apply Legal Aid; Track Your Application · read on 31-10-2026
    17. National Legal Services Authority: home pageNational Legal Services Authority (NALSA), "15100 NALSA Helpline Toll-Free Number" · read on 31-10-2026
    18. The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023 (No. 46 of 2023)Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department), Government of India (Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1, No. 54), Sections 2(1)(g) (cognizable offence: the police may arrest without warrant); 173(1) (information on a cognizable offence may be given at a police station "irrespective of the area where the offence is committed") with its first proviso (recorded by a woman police officer or any woman officer); 173(2) (a copy at once, free of cost); 173(4) (on refusal: in writing and by post to the Superintendent of Police, then an application to the Magistrate) (25-12-2023) · read on 11-11-2026
    19. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (No. 45 of 2023)Ministry of Law and Justice (Legislative Department), Government of India (Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Part II, Section 1, No. 53), Sections 64-71 (rape), 74-79 (assault on a woman, sexual harassment, voyeurism, stalking and the like) and 124 (acid attack): the offences named in BNSS section 173(1), first proviso (25-12-2023) · read on 11-11-2026