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Women's helpline and protection from domestic violence

Which number to call first, and how to reach the Sakhi centre, the police's women's units, protection under the domestic violence law and free legal aid.

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

Where:By phoneAt the officeOnline

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

In an emergency, call at once

112Emergency: police, medical and fire help (Dial 112, 24 hours)100Police181Women Helpline (free, 24 hours)

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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: 17

    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 or 100.

      Dial 112 gives police, medical and fire emergency help, 24 hours a day.

      Where
      By phone

      Sources: 1, 2, 3

    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 Sakhi centre, a hospital or the Legal Services Authority.

      Where
      By phone
      Fee
      Free · Toll-free number

      Sources: 2, 13, 14, 15

    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: 13, 10

    4. Do this now

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

      It gives medical help, help with a police complaint, legal advice and counselling in one place.

      Where
      Sakhi One Stop Centre (district)
      Open the official page
      Not confirmed

      The department's page links a list of each district's Sakhi centre with its address and phone number, but the list's file is dated March 2023. Call 181 to confirm your district centre's current address.

      Sources: 10, 13, 14

    5. Do this now

      A woman with no safe place to stay can ask the Sakhi 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; for a longer stay they arrange another shelter home.

      Where
      Sakhi One Stop Centre (district)

      Sources: 10, 13

    6. Do this now

      At the police station, ask for the Women Help Desk.

      It is run by a woman officer not below Sub-Inspector, with a curtained room for privacy.

      Where
      Police station (Women Help Desk)

      Sources: 8

    7. Do this now

      You can call the Domestic Violence Module of the Telangana Police Women Safety Wing on 9440700874.

      It takes up complaints of domestic violence and dowry harassment.

      Where
      Domestic Violence Module, Women Safety Wing

      Sources: 5, 9

    8. 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

      We could not read an official page saying who Telangana's Protection Officers are or where their offices are. Ask 181 or the Sakhi centre for your area's Protection Officer.

      Sources: 16, 17, 13

    9. 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: 16, 17

    10. 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: 17

    11. 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: 16, 17

    12. 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: 16, 17

    13. 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: 16, 17

    14. 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: 16, 17

    15. Do this now

      Contact the SHE Teams: send a WhatsApp message to 8712656856, call 100, or go to the nearest police station.

      They deal with street harassment, stalking, and harassment by phone or online.

      Where
      SHE Teams, Telangana Police

      Sources: 6, 5

    16. Do this now

      Through the SHE Teams, an FIR or a petty case can be registered at the police station concerned.

      Where
      Police station

      Sources: 6

    17. Do this now

      Call Bharosa on 7382626437.

      Bharosa deals with rape, attempted rape and sexual assault.

      Where
      Bharosa, Women Safety Wing

      Sources: 7, 5

    18. Do this now

      At a Bharosa centre, a woman police officer helps with the FIR.

      The medical examination, emergency medical support, a counsellor and legal help are there too.

      Where
      Bharosa centre

      Sources: 7

    19. 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: 20, 21

    20. Do this now

      For a free lawyer, apply in writing to the District Legal Services Authority in the district court complex.

      By law a woman is entitled to free legal aid; the authority checks that there is a prima facie case. If you cannot write, an officer there writes down what you say and takes your signature or thumb impression.

      Where
      District Legal Services Authority (district court complex)
      Fee
      Free

      Sources: 11, 12, 16

    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: 18

    22. Do this now

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

      Where
      By phone
      Fee
      Free

      Sources: 11, 19

    If something goes wrong

    If it is rejectedIf you get no help at the police station, you can contact the headquarters of the Telangana Police Women Safety Wing at Lakdikapool, Hyderabad (WhatsApp 8712656858).

    If you get no help at the police station, you can contact the headquarters of the Telangana Police Women Safety Wing at Lakdikapool, Hyderabad (WhatsApp 8712656858). Its website has a form for complaints that are not emergencies; in an emergency, call 100. 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)).

    Women Safety Wing headquarters, Lakdikapool, Hyderabad · Open the official page

    04027852246

    Sources: 4, 20

    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 (100)

    100

    Sources: 17, 20

    If it is rejectedIf free legal aid is refused, you can appeal to the Chairman of that authority or committee, or to the Executive Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority.

    If free legal aid is refused, you can appeal to the Chairman of that authority or committee, or to the Executive Chairman of the State Legal Services Authority.

    Telangana State Legal Services Authority, High Court premises, Hyderabad · Open the official page

    15100

    Sources: 12, 11

    Official websites for this work

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    Related guides

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    The 21 official pages and papers this guide is written from
    1. Telangana Police Dial 112: Emergency ResponseTelangana Police, Page description: 24x7 police, medical and fire emergency assistance across all 33 districts · read on 31-10-2026
    2. Emergency ContactsGovernment of Telangana, Contact Numbers: Police 100; Women Helpline 181 · read on 31-10-2026
    3. Welcome to Women Safety Wing, Telangana PoliceTelangana State Police, Women Safety Wing, Page header: "Emergency - Dial 100" · read on 31-10-2026
    4. Contact UsTelangana State Police, Women Safety Wing, Women Safety Wing Headquarters, Telangana Police, Lakdikapool, Hyderabad 500004: WhatsApp +91 8712656858, phone +91 40 27852246; form for non-emergency complaints ("Do not fill this form for emergencies") · read on 31-10-2026
    5. Get Help By IssueTelangana State Police, Women Safety Wing, "How to report?" under Street Sexual Harassment and Harassment in public places (Dial 100, WhatsApp +918712656856, nearby police stations), Sexually Assaulted (Bharosa, call 7382626437) and Domestic Violence (DV Module, call 9440700874). The page also shows other WhatsApp numbers under "Need help?" (919440700906) · read on 31-10-2026
    6. SHE TeamsTelangana State Police, Women Safety Wing, "Reach out to us": WhatsApp 8712656856; "When can I approach SHE Teams?" (street sexual harassment, harassment in public places, stalking, online or phone harassment); "How we work": FIR / petty cases through SHE Teams in the police station concerned; complaints directly or through social media, WhatsApp or the Hawk Eye app · read on 31-10-2026
    7. Bharosa CentersTelangana State Police, Women Safety Wing, "Bharosa - 7382626437"; "When can I approach Bharosa?" (rape or attempt to rape, sexual assault, child sexual abuse); "How it works" 1-4 (lady police officer for the FIR, on-site medical examination and emergency medical support, a counsellor, legal assistance) · read on 31-10-2026
    8. Women Help DeskTelangana State Police, Women Safety Wing, "Reach out to us": Women Help line 181, Police help line 100; "When can I report to Women Help Desk?"; "Composition of Women Help Desk" (a woman officer not below Sub-Inspector, with two woman head constables or senior woman constables); "Key Functions" (dedicated area next to the reception of the police station, curtained rooms for privacy) · read on 31-10-2026
    9. Domestic Violence ModuleTelangana State Police, Women Safety Wing, "When can I report Domestic Violence?" (domestic violence or abuse, harassment for dowry); "DV Module Telangana SOP" (petition registered and taken up with the police station's SHO) · read on 31-10-2026
    10. One Stop Centre SAKHI SCHEMEWomen Development and Child Welfare Department, Government of Telangana, Objective; Target group; Services offered in OSCs (rescue, medical assistance, help with FIR, counselling, legal aid, shelter up to 5 days); Accessing One Stop Centre (by herself, through any person, or through the Women Helpline); the link "LIST OF SAKHI ONE STOP CENTRES AND CONTACT DETAILS" (a PDF of 33 centres; the file's own date is 20 March 2023) · read on 11-11-2026
    11. IntroductionTelangana State Legal Services Authority, Free legal services under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987; District Legal Services Authorities in the district courts complex of all 33 districts; toll-free 15100 · read on 31-10-2026
    12. FAQ on Legal Aid and Lok AdalatsTelangana State Legal Services Authority, Questions 2-3 (what free legal aid covers; a woman is among those entitled under section 12), 7 (appeal against denial to the Chairman, or the Executive Chairman of the SLSA), 11 (a prima facie case is needed), 13 (where to apply), 15-16 (application in writing; an illiterate person's oral request is recorded). Linked from the authority's FAQs page · read on 31-10-2026
    13. 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
    14. 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
    15. 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
    16. 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
    17. 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
    18. Legal Services Management System: Apply Legal AidNational Legal Services Authority (NALSA), Menu: Apply Legal Aid; Track Your Application · read on 31-10-2026
    19. National Legal Services Authority: home pageNational Legal Services Authority (NALSA), "15100 NALSA Helpline Toll-Free Number" · read on 31-10-2026
    20. 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
    21. 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