Are anti-Romeo squads a necessity or nuisance?

NO Empower women, rather I think it’s more important to train the existing personnel rather than forming a new squad which will need fresh resources. We need to focus on empowering women personnel and increasing their numbers instead of introducing new squads. Yashila Sharma, Delhi

YES Fight for the cause I get that it is the cops’ responsibility to ensure that women are not harassed on the streets, but if there are other people who want to help, they should be allowed. We know that there are not enough police personnel and having extra protection is kind of liberating. I don’t think that stopping harassment and molestation should be the responsibility of just the crime branch. everyone should take this up and we can change the situation. Ashima Garg, Dehradun

NO Change mindset of boys I don’t think that only one initiative can ensure women safety. We should wait a little before judging the success of the anti-romeo squads. maybe they help or maybe they don’t but it’s a step in the right direction because unless everyone is attacking the issue of sexual harassment head on, I don’t think a change is possible. It is important to change the mindset of boys and it is equally important to punish wrong-doers. punishment is a part of reform. Tanvi Abrol, Gurgaon

YES Not just a political stunt one can question why these initiatives are taken up right before the elections, but other than that, I don’t see a problem with it. This might have been a political stunt but at least an initiative has been taken. I personally know girls who have faced harassment on the streets and right outside college and I myself have faced it and it makes us feel a little bit more secure to think that there is someone out there who you can turn to for help. Priya Irshad, Lucknow

NO It is only to increase vote bank It is just a political agenda. These “squads” abuse a particular community in order to attract voters from the other community. It is just a continuation of ‘love jihad’. Taking care of molesters and harassers is the responsibility of the police and not moral policing squads employed by political parties. as has been seen in a number of cases already, a lot of couples are harassed by these squads and I’m not sure if effective steps have been taken against actual troublemakers. Harbani Kohli, Chandigarh