DRAFT DOS AND DON’TS FOR ANTIROMEO SQUAD: DGP

Newly-appointed Uttar Pradesh DGP, Sulkhan Singh, on Tuesday directed superintendents of police (SPs) of all 75 districts to draft an order focusing on the dos and don’ts for the cops deployed in the anti-Romeo squad.

In his first videoconferencing with the district police officers after taking over, Singh made it clear to the SPs that they will have to do a regular briefing to the squad before they move for action. The members of the squad will not do any probe but will have to take action against the recalcitrant youths who are caught harassing girls.

Such errant youths could be identified easily with their dress and activities at the public spots, he said. Such youths will not be sent to jail but their parents will be summoned to the police station. The policemen will counsel the youths before the parents. The anti- Romeo squad will be equipped with a video camera to record their operation.

The DGP ordered action against the people who are found indulging in vigilantism as the ‘gau rakshak’ or the fringe groups who often indulge in violence in the cases of love affair.

In view of the violence during procession taken out during birth anniversary of Dr BR Ambedkar in Saharanpur, the DGP made it clear that police officers will check launch of a new tradition during public programme or festivals.

“On no issue, the protestors will be permitted to block the movement of traffic or organise a dharna on roads,” he said.

In cases of tension, the SPs will hold meeting with the public representatives, influential people of the area, office bearers of labour unions and lawyers. “The police officers will take their assistance to settle the issue amicably. The police should win the confidence of the common people,” Singh said. Singh, who is known as an upright and suave officer, directed the police officers not to humiliate people during police operation.