‘ROMEOS’ BURNING
Indian state’s use of police to stop the harrassment of women is under fire
Indian police squad moving against harassment of women comes under criticism,
MUMBAI // The newly launched “anti-Romeo squads” in Uttar Pradesh – an initiative by the new government of the north Indian state to curb the widespread harassment of women – are proving highly controversial. In India, the term “Romeo” – which does not accurately reflect the behaviour of a Shakespearean literary character – refers to men who harass or pester women in public. Such men are also called “eve- teasers” for groping and catcalling at women.
But there are concerns that the anti-Romeo squads may be crossing into moral policing and infringing on women’s freedom. The police patrols were launched in the country’s most populous state last week after Yogi Adityanath, a Hindu priest, was appointed as its chief minister in the wake of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) election victory.
The establishment of anti-Romeo squads was a key campaign pledge by Mr Adityanath. The squads, which comprise male and female police officers, operate in cities across the state.
They patrol colleges, malls and other public spaces, and target loitering youths who they believe may pose a threat to women. The initiative has led to several young men’s arrest and detention.
But reports have emerged of men being reprimanded indiscriminately and unfairly, such as boys waiting outside colleges for their sisters.
“This Big Brother kind of surveillance in India is common and this is a manifestation of that,” said Vandana Shah, a lawyer who specialises in women’s rights.
“What are your parameters? How do you judge whether this guy looks like a Romeo, versus this guy who doesn’t look like a Romeo? It’s ridiculous. I think it’s intrusive. I don’t think it’s going to serve any purpose beyond a point and it can easily be misused.” Ms Shah said that women had not been given a voice on the issue.
In a Times of India report on Friday, a journalist joined two male and two female constables on an anti-Romeo patrol. When asked how they could identify young men as Romeos, one of the male constables replied that he could spot them “just by the look in their eyes, their face and the way they stand”. In some cases, young men were forced to do sit- ups, and the police shamed and reported them to their parents, said local media.
“Safety of girls/ ladies is the sole intent of the anti- Romeo squads. No moral policing,” tweeted Javed Ahmad, Uttar Pradesh’s director general of police.
Apurwa Pandey, 16, a student in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, said she believed that the anti- Romeo squad “isn’t the most effective way for reducing eve-teasing or harassment” and that the patrols could restrict women’s freedom.
“Such squads legitimise moral policing,” she said, adding that it was already hard for couples to find places to socialise. A young man should not have to answer to a police officer about his personal life as long as he was not breaking the law, and he should be free to talk to a woman if he was not harassing her, Ms Pandey said.
Mr Adityanath, who is regarded as a firebrand, launched the anti- Romeo squads at the same time that his government cracked down on slaughterhouses. He is eager to protect cows, which are revered by Hindus. The slaughter of cows is banned in Uttar Pradesh. After taking office last week, Mr Adityanath ordered the closure of illegal slaughterhouses, which led to several meat shops and abattoirs being shut.
Meat traders in Uttar Pradesh announced that they would stage an indefinite strike on Monday. Ms Shah said authorities should look at alternative measures to deal with the harassment of women. They could include fast-track courts to enforce exist- ing laws on sexual harassment and assault, and ensure stricter and faster ways of doing so, she said.
“They should have educational programmes for men that are mandatory,” said the lawyer. “How do you change the narrative at a grass roots level? There needs to be a change at the larger macro level.”
Self-defence courses for women were another option that could be more effective than the anti-Romeo squads, said Ms Shah.
Some people have, however, welcomed the use of the police squads.
“I think it’s a good initiative to deal with the problem of eve- teasing and harassment and stop these problems,” said Ritika Agrawal, 17, a student in Uttar Pradesh.