The Uttar Pradesh Police has decided to strengthen its existing ‘anti-Romeo squads’ to protect women from stalkers and eve-teasers.
Sources at DGP office disclosed that the sleuths — both men and women – in civvies will be deployed at public places like colleges, shopping malls, markets, parks, bus stands, stations and even schools from now under the plan. “As part of its efforts to strengthen the squads, the personnel deployed would also be provided with wardrobe-mounted cameras to ensure that no one slips from the hands of the Police,” they said.
The ‘anti-Romeo squads’ was formed soon after Yogi Adityanath assumed office of chief minister in Uttar Pradesh. The aim behind setting up a squad was to fulfill the BJP’s election promise to ‘protect the honour of women’ once the party comes to power.
“Since the squad was constituted after formation of the Adityanath government last year, as many as 34,49,646 persons were checked till July 12. Besides, 2,481 FIRs were lodged and action was taken against 4,392 persons,” the sources disclosed. They said about 15,69,145 persons who were caught during the different drives were let off after being warned. They said the during this period, 12,616,18 public places, schools, parks, bus stations, malls, markets were checked by the ‘anti-Romeo squads’.
As per the official data, seven FIRs were lodged by the squad every day and 2,410 persons were warned daily by these squads across the state.
“As per the latest guidelines issued by the Uttar Pradesh Police, the youth who provoked others to take part in such activities aimed at troubling women would be provided with counseling by the police, if necessary,” they disclosed.
They said all the police stations will have their own separate registers to keep a record of crimes against women in Uttar Pradesh, and review meetings will be held every week to check these crimes and the progress achieved. “The decision to strengthen these squads was taken in view that that the offenders may not go unchecked,” the sources said.
Earlier after the anti-Romeo squad came into existence it had kicked c controversy with several people had complained that the drive had created a feeling of terror among youths due and there were some youths who were made to shave their heads or do sit-ups for eve-teasing.