Delhi Police Launches ‘Shishtachar’ Squad to Combat Eve-Teasing

To enhance women’s safety in public spaces, the Delhi Police has launched ‘Shishtachar’ squads across all districts. These anti-eve-teasing squads aim to curb harassment through active patrolling, surprise checks, and public outreach. Supervised by senior officials, the initiative focuses on prevention, intervention, and victim assistance to create a secure environment for women in the capital.

Key Features of ‘Shishtachar’ Squad

1. Formation & Supervision

• Each district will have at least two squads.
• Supervised by the ACP of the Crime Against Women (CAW) cell in the respective district.

2. Squad Composition

• 1 Inspector & 1 Sub-Inspector.
• 4 Female officers & 5 Male officers.
• 1 Technical personnel from the anti-auto theft squad for surveillance support.

3. Operations & Patrolling

• Each squad will be equipped with one four-wheeler and multiple two-wheelers for mobility.
• Daily patrols at high-risk locations, with at least two targeted operations per day.
• Plain-clothed female officers will be deployed to monitor and identify offenders.
• Surprise inspections in public transport, in coordination with Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) staff and passengers, to encourage incident reporting.

4. Identification of Vulnerable Areas

• District DCPs will identify and compile a list of hotspots where women’s safety is a concern.
• This list will be shared with the Special Police Unit for Women and Children (SPUWAC) for further action.

5. Comparison with Uttar Pradesh’s ‘Anti-Romeo Squad’

• The BJP had promised the formation of an ‘Anti-Romeo Squad’ in Delhi, similar to the initiative in Uttar Pradesh.
• While both initiatives focus on preventing harassment, the ‘Shishtachar’ squad takes a comprehensive approach, integrating prevention, intervention, and victim assistance.