Haryana police to relaunch antiRomeo campaign today
OPERATION DURGA Police squads will keep vigil at schools, colleges and public spaces
n letterschd@hindustantimes.com
The Haryana Police will re-launch ‘Operation Durga’ across the state from Monday to check the unwarranted activities of ‘Romeos’ and ensure women’s safety, according to newly appointed director general of police (DGP) BS Sandhu.
During the fortnight-long first phase of the fresh exercise starting May 1, special squads from local police stations will keep a vigil at schools, colleges, markets, malls and other crowded places.
“The objective is to ensure safety of women. The Operation Durga is not about moral policing,” the DGP said during his maiden press conference here after holding a series of meetings with senior police officers to review the law and order situation in the state.
About two weeks ago, the chief minister’s flying squads, along with CID squads, had started Operation Durga which was stopped within a week.
The drive is akin to Uttar Pradesh government’s ‘Operation anti-Romeo’.
Asserting that curbing crime against women will be one of his top priorities, the DGP assured that police will not harass anyone and that couples in the parks will not be bothered and targeted under this drive.
He said the state government had posted five women IPS officers as superintendents of police (SPs) in the districts such as Hisar, Rewari and Palwal which will give help in running this operation smoothly.
The DGP said that earlier this exercise was launched for limited days and now the police will continue this drive. “This will be a continuous movement,” he said. CONCERNED ABOUT DRUGS: DGP Admitting that the prevalence of drugs in Haryana was a matter of “serious concern”, the DGP said he has given strict instructions to the field officers to act tough and catch big drug smugglers.
Sandhu said an advisory was also issued to the field staff about the action to be taken against those supplying or smuggling the narcotics.
“The police personnel will have to be vigilant not only in the districts adjoining Punjab but also in the entire state, especially the region bordering Delhi,” he said, while responding to a question.
The police crack down, he said, will focus on smashing the drug supply line by nabbing big fish.