Taking inspiration from Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh model, Delhi Police have launched “anti-eve teasing” or “Shishtachar” squads, in a bid to enhance women safety. The newly launched initiative will “focus on enforcing the law, rather than imposing personal or cultural morality on individuals”.
Prior to Delhi assembly elections, BJP had promised to implement “Anti-Romeo Squads”, including CCTV cameras across public places in Delhi as a part of their poll manifesto. The order signed by Commissioner of Police Sanjay Arora, on 8 March, read, “These squads will comprise trained personnel, who shall focus on preventing, deterring, and responding to such offences on a real-time basis.”
District-wise teams’ plan
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) will lead two ‘Anti-Romeo Squad’ squads in each district. A squad would consist of an inspector, a sub-inspector, and five male police officers (Assistant Sub-Inspectors, head constables, and constables), including four female personnel.
Moreover, Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS) will join squads for technical assistance. The main aim will be the “hotspots and vulnerable areas” that concern women’s safety. Such places will be identified and listed by the District Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs). Squads will be in civil clothes to spot offenders, and would be empathetic, self-motivated as part of the process.
Squads would send a weekly report to senior officers about their work, which will be overseen by the ACP.
According to executive directions, “The squads shall conduct surprise checks in public transport and interact with DTC drivers, conductors, and passengers and motivate them to report such incidents. The directives state, “The squads will operate with a multi-faceted approach involving prevention, intervention, and victim assistance.”
Data on crimes against women
Delhi witnessed 4,273 cases of rape, eve-teasing, molestation until December 15 last year, according to the data shared by Delhi Police. A total of 1,971 cases were reported at police stations of Delhi till December 15.
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