In its second surprise drive against eve-teasers, called “Majnu Returns”, about 50 people were arrested for passing inappropriate comments on women or misbehaving with them, Gurgaon police said on Saturday.
According to a senior police official, the drive was conducted on the Mehrauli-Gurgaon (MG) Road for about two hours.
“The drive started from 11 pm on Friday to 1 am on Saturday by policewomen in plainclothes. Other women were also roped in to catch red-handed offenders,” said Assistant Commissioner of Police (City) Dharna Yadav.
Approximately 30 women, mostly policewomen, stationed themselves at 10 points on MG Road, including outside Sahara Mall and Metro stations, bars and also at traffic signals and found plenty of men passing inappropriate comments or making inappropriate gestures or misbehaving with them, said the official.
“We could have made more arrests as many offenders, especially those in their vehicles, managed to escape after passing lewd comments or making inappropriate gestures. In one such instance, a youth in inebriated condition passed an objectionable remark at a woman who was in another car at a traffic signal. A police woman tried to stop the youth but he managed to flee,” said the official.
About 50 such men were rounded up and kept in a “Majnu Room” in Sector 29 where they are interrogated and booked under the relevant Sections of law.
“We are covering public places, schools, colleges and other public places where youths are spotted in eve-teasing,” said a police officer.
The drive was conducted to instil confidence in women so that they feel comfortable in going out or being outdoors during night time. The main focus of the drive is to make Gurgaon free from crime against women, said the official.
Police had arrested over 250 people last year during three such drives, the last one being carried out in December.
“Majnu”, drawn from the love-pair laila-Majnu, used to colloquially suggest a love-lorn youth. Today, it is used for a man who inappropriately seeks female company for amatory or sexual interest.