English
New Delhi: After detaining 32 men in Ghaziabad, ‘Anti-Romeo squads’ on Thursday reached Gautam Buddha Nagar district of Noida. The team hits marketplaces and educational institutes to ensure the safety of women. The Uttar Pradesh police headquarters on Thursday issued an order, following which the squads were formed in each police station of the district, claims report in leading daily The Indian Express.
While talking to the leading daily Dharmendra Singh, SSP Gautam Buddha Nagar asserted that ‘Anti-Romeo Squads’ of five police personnel will be formed in all police station. The Squads will consist of three women and two male constables and if there are women sub-inspectors in any team, they would lead that squad. The idea of “anti-Romeo” squads was first implemented in Gujarat in the late 1990s when BJP was in power but the campaign later fizzled out in a short span of time.
Neeraj Kumar Singh, SHO, Vijay Nagar police station said, “A warning was issued to them. They had been roaming near ABES College where they were questioned and later brought to the police station. They were let off with a warning.”
On Wednesday, the squad detained five persons in Pilibhit. According to the reports of news agency PTI, at a few places in the state, some youths were made to do sit-ups at busy crossings holding their ears and taking a 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 suggestions 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.
Safety of girls/ladies is the sole intent of the anti Romeo squads. No moral policing.
— Javeed (@javeeddgpup) March 22, 2017
The BJP Lok Kalyan Sankalp Patra(manifesto), which the party released ahead of the UP assembly elections, categorically mentioned that to stop instances of eve-teasing, anti-Romeo squads would be formed.
(With inputs from agencies)
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