State tightens leash on anti-Romeo squads

The Uttar Pradesh police was on Friday directed by the state government to ensure its anti-Romeo squads do not resort to blackening of the face or "murga" position type punishments in the name of protecting women.

The move by tahe government comes amid outrage over the way the squads have punished loitering men on the streets and a day after the Allahabad High Court directed it to ensure that guidelines were followed by the police teams and action taken as per the law.

There should be no shaving of heads, blackening of faces or "murga pose" (a stress position used as a corporal punishment where sit-ups are done holding the ears), said a senior official while listing out the dos and don'ts.

The fresh guidelines were issued after the intervention of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath amid reports of alleged harassment by anti-Romeo squads.

The special squads of the UP Police were formed after the the BJP government assumed office this month, fulfilling one of the pre-poll promises of the party.

The Allahabad High Court's Lucknow bench of justices Amreshwar Pratap Sahi and Sanjay Harkauli had given its order on a PIL that alleged that police were not following the guidelines during the drive, aimed at checking eveteasing, and it was harassing couples.

The chief minister has also directed administrative and police officials in districts to regularly review the steps being taken for women security and inform senior officials on a regular basis, the official said.

Stressing that his government was firm on upholding the security and dignity of women, he said a state-wide drive has been launched to free public places of anti-social elements