Ranchi: Shakti app, an Android-based mobile application by Jharkhand Police for iy, has run into a peculiar problem in Ranchi.

Not a single woman has so far registered a distress complaint on the app, say sources at police control room in Kutchery. But, scores of men are merrily downloading it from Google Play Store “for testing purposes”.

According to control room data, within three weeks of its launch on March 8, International Women’s Day, 500 people have downloaded the app. But, the 43 who have used it have done so for testing. “Only two or three women have registered their names but no one has complained,” Nirmala Ba, an ASI associated with the Shakti app at the control room, told The Telegraph.

“We are just getting information about its testing for which people (read men) are downloading this app instead of registering complaints. Most of those who have downloaded the app are doing so to test whether it’s working or not,” she added. “Some people give us feedback when they are unable to connect to server while trying to download the app. Others shower praises, saying the app is very good for girls and women. We get comments such as ‘very nice app, very good for women, thanks Jharkhand Police’, and the like.”

But, if the app is making waves among curious men, most college girls in Ranchi, even those from reputable institutions who are tech-savvy and own smartphones, appear blissfully ignorant,The Telegraph reported.

Heena Parween, a BCom Part I student of Marwari Women’s College in Ranchi, when asked about whether she or her friends had downloaded the Shakti app, said: “Oh, is there something like it?”

Juhi Priya, who is doing her second-year IT course from XISS, echoed Heena. “Really didn’t know about this app. Will check it out I guess,” she said.

Asked what they did if they encountered lewd comments, catcalls or groping on roads, Heena said: “If something unpleasant happens near campus, we tell our principal. Otherwise, our safely is up to us.” Juhi added she had learnt karate. “Self-defence classes gave me a lot of confidence.”

When told the Shakti app was hardly popular among its target users, Ranchi SSP Kuldeep Dwivedi said: “You see, it takes time to get acquainted with a new system. We have decided to distribute pamphlets in schools and colleges to generate awareness about Shakti app. I think with time our app will become popular.”

Easy to use, once downloaded and installed, for registration, a person has to feed the contact numbers of three relatives or friends, name, email id, one’s own mobile number and address. In case of any distress, the user can send an alert by pressing the help button.

Immediately, an alert will be sent to police control room 2215855 and also to the friends and relatives.

Shakti app was also launched in East Singhbhum some months earlier.