Ahead of the International Women's Day 2019, an inactive helpline number for women - 9969777888 - has resurfaced on social media with some netizens claiming it to be an initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi led government to provide safety to women. A Facebook post by page BJP, which has over 20,000 followers, had in January claimed that women travelling alone via auto or taxi at night can now SMS the vehicle’s number to the police at 9969777888 and the police will keep a track of the vehicle via GPRS.

Even though this false claim was debunked by fake news busters and police department of Delhi and Bengaluru, the same misinformation is being spread again on social media ahead of the International Women's Day on March 8. Those who don't know that the number 9969777888 is no longer functional and the helpline was not opened by the Modi government are falling prey to this fake claim and sharing this misinformation. This inactive helpline number has been circulating on social media since 2014. Fact Check: IAF Wing Commander Abhinandan Thanking Nirmala Sitharaman on Twitter For 'Looking at Him' is a Fake Account.

In 2016, the fake claim was busted by the Delhi Police when the helpline number was attributed to them. Similarly, in 2018, the Bengaluru Police busted this false information this was shared as one of their initiatives for women's safety. The fact is the helpline number 9969777888 was launched by the Mumbai Police in March 2014 on the occasion of International Women’s Day after the rape and murder of Hyderabad techie Esther Anuhya. However, the helpline was shut following poor response from women.

The conclusion is the helpline number 9969777888 is no longer active and the Modi government has nothing to do with this.

Fact check

Fact Check: Inactive Women Helpline Number 9969777888 Resurfaces On Social Media; Here's The Truth About It
Claim :

Women travelling alone can send vehicle number at 9969777888 and the police will keep a track.

Conclusion :

The helpline number 9969777888 is no longer active.

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(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 06, 2019 04:53 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).