New Delhi: The Delhi Police has announced the formation of Shishtachar anti-eve teasing squads, a new initiative aimed at enhancing women's safety across the national capital. These teams will patrol public places to prevent harassment, including eve-teasing and molestation, while ensuring strict law enforcement without imposing personal or cultural morality.

Crackdown on harassment in public spaces

According to an order signed by Commissioner of Police Sanjay Arora on March 8, these squads will consist of trained personnel tasked with preventing, deterring, and responding to crimes against women in real time. Each of Delhi's districts will have at least two anti-eve teasing squads operating under the supervision of an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) from the Crime Against Women Cell.

Each squad will be composed of an inspector, a sub-inspector, and four female and five male officers from the ranks of Assistant Sub-Inspector, Head Constable, and Constable. Additional support will be provided by personnel from the Special Staff or the Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS), who will offer technical assistance.

The primary focus will be on areas identified as "hotspots" for crimes against women. District Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) have been directed to compile lists of such locations, with the squads mandated to patrol at least two vulnerable points daily.

Prevention,intervention, and victim assistance

The squads will employ a multi-faceted approach, integrating prevention, intervention, and victim assistance. Officers in plainclothes will conduct surprise checks in public transport, collaborating with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) drivers, conductors, and passengers to encourage reporting of harassment incidents.

Additionally, directives have been issued to ensure that victims are not subjected to unnecessary public scrutiny or embarrassment. District DCPs will oversee the squads' operations, ensuring that officers handle cases with sensitivity, empathy, and self-motivation.

BJP’s manifesto promise and UP’s anti-romeo model

The deployment of Shishtachar squads aligns with the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) manifesto for the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, which promised the establishment of "Anti-Romeo Squads" in all public spaces alongside an extensive CCTV surveillance network to bolster security.

The initiative also mirrors a similar model introduced by the Uttar Pradesh Police in 2017 through its "Anti-Romeo" drive, which aimed to curb harassment against women in public spaces.

(With inputs from IANS)