All you need to know about anti-Romeo squads which also target Juliets

The squads will also check consumption of liquor at public places as it often leads to instances of eve-teasing.

From Gorakhpur to Meerut, anti Romeo squad of policemen fanned out across Uttar Pradesh on the orders of new Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, fulfilling a pre-poll pledge of the BJP to check eve-teasing.

About the squad

Each squad consists of a sub-inspector and four constables (which include two women constables as well). The members of the squad would be deployed both in plain clothes and uniform.

Anti- Romeo squads' intent

The sole intent of the anti-romeo squads is the safety of girls/ladies and no moral policing. The squads have undertaken intensive checking drives in Lucknow, Bulandshahr, Meerut, Mirzapur and Rae Bareli, UP so far.

The modus operandi

The squads will also check consumption of liquor at public places as it often leads to instances of eve-teasing. Since the commencement of the squad's functioning, the police detained five youths, quizzed 934 others and checked 176 spots in various parts of UP.

Similar to Operation Majnu

The modus operandi of the squads will be similar to the infamous 'Operation Majnu' in 2005, in which boys at crossings and markets were pulled up and some couples were roughed up. In 2005, Operation Majnu had empowered police to question any boy seen with a woman on the streets or in parks. The campaign had soured when reports of police thrashing young men came to the fore.

First implemented in Gujarat

The idea of anti-Romeo squads was first implemented in Gujarat in the late 1990s when BJP was in power but the campaign later fizzled out in a short span of time.

Also target Juliets in Gujarat

Besides Romeos, the Gujarat's anti romeo squads have also often targetted 'Juliets' with the aim of preventing couples from cozying up in parks and other public places.

OneIndia News (with inputs from agencies)

Photo courtesy: PTI