Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 6 (IANS): Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala, in his first meeting with police top brass, vowed to make the state a "Nirbhaya Kerala," one where women have nothing to fear. Six new all-women police stations would be set up, he said.

He said atrocities against women and children would be sternly dealt with. Chennithala was sworn in last week as part of the Congress high command's decision to accommodate him within the state cabinet after he had served eight years as state party president.

"The six police stations will come up in Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Thrissur, Malapuram and Kannur districts. They will be opened March 1," Chennithala told reporters here Monday.

At present, the state has only one all-women police station, located a stone's throw from the state secretariat, the seat of power.

"We have full confidence in our women police officials and have decided to open more all-women police stations. In such stations all complaints would be entertained. And men too can take their complaints there," Chennithala said.

He also said that criminality within police ranks would not be tolerated at all.

"We already have a mechanism to monitor errant police officials who have a nexus with criminals. Since there are legal issues attached to it, the Police Complaint Authority would be dealing with this. At no cost will there be any laxity in dealing with such officials," Chennithala said.