Jeypore: Koraput police led by ASP Sagarika Nath have formed an anti-Romeo squad in the district to check eve-teasing.
“In recent times, we received several complaints at various urban police station areas that the girl students are being harassed by eve-teasers, who pass lewd comments and follow them. Hence, to ensure the safety of girls, the squad has been formed,” said Koraput Police Superintendent Kanwar Vishal Singh.
Koraput Additional Police Superintendent Sagarika Nath, who heads the squad, said: “Blocking is done in and around schools and colleges and also almost all the major junction from where complaints have been received. Our men in uniform and also in civil dress have been asked to keep an eye on unwarranted acts. Action is being taken only if the squad identifies unwarranted gestures by a person.”
Also, during blocking near the educational institutes, the squad impounds bikes having no number plates, triple riding, rash driving and over-speeding. After confiscating the bikes, parents of the offenders are called to the police station where we try to convey the message that such behaviour is reckless and leads to damaging the future of the child. While for the first time offence, the offender is left with a warning, legal action will be taken if he or she is caught next time,” Nath said.
During its campaign at Jeypore since Thursday, the squad has caught over 50 offenders from various locations of the town on charges of rash-driving and eve-teasing.
“On a priority basis, we are campaigning at Jeypore as most of the complaints were from here. We have intensified patrolling around all educational institutions of the town, especially during the closing time of classes,” she said.
Smitika Panigrahi of Class 12 said day by day Jeypore is becoming unsafe as a lot of youths are straying towards easy income and with their costly bikes they follow us wherever we go alone. So such steps will really help us to move freely on roads.
Ankita Mohanty of Class 9 said such steps are really essential to counter the hooligans, especially those youths who never go to college but always show their attendance near tuition classes and schools with their bikes. A lot of girls are feeling unsafe moving on the roads without their parents and friends; so strict action should be taken against all those eve-teasers, she said.
A senior member of a local organisation complained that Jeypore is becoming a hub for criminals and many youths are buying expensive bikes by earning easy money through buying and selling weed.
PNN
