In a first, anti-Romeo squad ropes in girls to identify eve-teasers
To intensify its crackdown on eve-teasers, the anti-Romeo squad has kicked off a campaign to rope in girls to identify trouble-mongers.
The squad is distributing feedback forms to girl students in the district in which they have to mention the time and exact spot where they face harassment at the hands of anti-social elements.
The initiative is first of its kind in the state and police have received tremendous response to the campaign within a week. At least 2,000 girls from various educational institutions in the city as well as rural areas have filled up feedback forms.
A large number of girls mentioned the time, place, and in some cases, even the names of the harassers in the feedback forms. The hangouts of anti-social elements include schools and colleges, tea stalls, bus stands, markets and even religious places.
On the basis of the feedback, at least 17 places have been identified in the city for the first phase of the drive. Some girls even suggested that the number of policemen in anti-Romeo squads should be increased.
The initiative was taken as the squad had been facing difficulty in identifying the places where the incidents of harassment were going unreported.
ASP Vinit Jaiswal, who is heading the anti-Romeo squad in the district, said the team had limited number of men and it was not possible to deploy them outside every school, college, malls and other public places.
“At the first instance, the antiRomeo squad will issue a warning to culprits and will take strict action if they are again found indulging in similar activities,” he said.
The information collected during the drive will also be shared with other police stations in the district.
“There are many hangouts of such elements which are not known to the police. However, the girls who face such a situation every day are aware about it,” he said.
“After identifying the places, anti-Romeo squads will issue red card (warning) to them instead of arresting or insulting them publicly. However, if they are again found involved in the same offence, strict action will be taken against them. Their details will also be shared with other police stations,” Jaiswal added.
AT LEAST 2,000 GIRLS INSTITUTIONS IN THE CITY AS WELL AS RURAL AREAS HAVE FILLED UP FEEDBACK FORMS. ON ITS BASIS, 17 PLACES HAVE BEEN MARKED IN THE CITY FOR FIRST PHASE OF DRIVE