Police get cracking on ‘eve-teasers’ in UP

director general of police Javeed Ahmad had directed all district police chiefs on Monday that antiR-omeo squads should be formed and regular drives should be carried out to instil a sense of security among girls.

Inspector general of police, Lucknow zone, A Satish Ganesh had issued a circular directing formation of ‘anti-Romeosquads’ at police station level.

The circular asks the police to conduct checking drives outside schools, colleges and market places. Ganesh said police chiefs had been asked to invoke Goonda Act against people harassing girls and women. The police are keeping strict vigil at most of the girls’ colleges and co-educational institutes across the state.

Gauri (name changed), a college student, was used to hearing uncomfortable comments from eve-teasers every day.

At 2pm on Wednesday the ‘road Romeos’ reached the college again, but this time, the police were watching. Much to Gauri’s surprise, the cops confronted the boys.

“Where are you from? Show me your identity card. Call your parents if you fail to satisfy me why you are here,” circle officer (CO), Hazratganj, Avinish Mishra told the boys.

Terrified, the boys apologised and promised to ‘behave’ in future.

Some of the boys were even asked to do sit-ups, some picked up for questioning while others were let off with a warning.

The crackdown on eve-teasers, as promised by the Adityanath government, began in the state on Tuesday even before the formation of the anti-Romeo squads.

During video conferencing,