Anti-Romeo Squads In UP To Curb Eve-Teasing

Lucknow: From Gorakhpur to Meerut, "anti- Romeo" squads of policemen fanned out across Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday on the orders of new chief minister Yogi Adityanath, fulfilling a pre-poll pledge of the BJP to check eve-teasing. Special squads comprising officials from local police stations kept a vigil at markets, malls, schools, colleges, coaching centres, parks and other crowded places to see if women were being harassed.

The squad detained five persons in Pilibhit. At a few places in the state, some youths were made to do sit-ups at busy crossings holding their ears and taking pledge not to indulge in eve-teasing.

"The idea is that there should not be any harassment to women," Senior SP Barabanki, Vaibhav Krishna said, making it clear that it should not be construed as moral policing amid suggestiosn that the way the squads functioned blurs the line between crime control and moral policing.

"Safety of girls/ladies is the sole intent of the anti- Romeo squads. No moral policing," UP DGP Javeed Ahmed tweeted.

According to Inspector General of Police, Meerut zone, Ajay Anand, the squads have been formed on the directives of chief minister Adityanath, who was sworn in on Sunday. The squads have undertaken intensive checking drives in Lucknow, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Mirzapur and Rae Bareli, UP police tweeted. The squads will also check consumption of liquor at public places as it often leads to instances of eve-teasing, he said.

Since the commencement of the squad's functioning, the police detained five youths, quizzed 934 others and checked 176 spots in various parts of city on Tuesday when the drive was launched. Superintendent of Police (Lucknow East) Shivram Yadav said that in Lucknow 23 anti-Romeo squads have been formed. Each squad consists of a sub-inspector and four constables (which include two women constables as well). The members of the squad would be deployed both in plain clothes and uniform.

Since the commencement of the squad’s functioning, the police detained five youths, quizzed 934 others and checked 176 spots in various parts of city on Tuesday when the drive was launched

Giving details of the type of action which could be initiated against roadside Romeos, Yadav, said, "If a woman is not registering any police complaint, then the eve-teaser may be let off after counselling. If the eve-teaser is below 18 years of age, then Juvenile Act would be applicable. But, if the eve-teaser is above 18, then the person would be tried as per provisions of IPC and POCSO (in case the victim is a minor)."

Anand said the squads will conduct 'Operation Romeo' outside Colleges and their functioning will be monitored by the city SP. While campaigning in the state, BJP President Amit Shah had said that the BJP, if voted to power, would form anti-Romeo squads to check eve-teasing.

PTI