Delhi Police To Launch 'Shishtachar' Squads To Ensure Women's Safety

Delhi Police's 'Shishtachar' squads will patrol public spaces across the city to enhance women's safety. The BJP Delhi Assembly Election manifesto had mentioned the deployment of Anti-Romeo Squads.

Delhi Police have announced that it will soon launch “anti-eve teasing” or “Shishtachar” squads, which will patrol public spaces across the city to enhance women's safety. The squads will focus on enforcing the law rather than imposing personal and cultural morality on individuals.

According to IANS, it is aimed at curbing crimes against women, including eve-teasing, molestation, and other forms of harassment.

The order, signed by Commissioner of Police Sanjay Arora on March 8, stated that trained personnel had been assigned to prevent, deter, and respond to such offences in real time.

The BJP, in its manifesto for the Delhi Assembly Elections 2025, has written about the deployment of "Anti-Romeo Squads" in all public spaces, along with an extensive network of CCTV cameras to bolster security.

Each district will have a minimum of two anti-eve-teasing squads supervised by an Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) from the district's Crime Against Women Cell. Each squad will consist of an inspector, a sub-inspector, four female officers, and five male officers from various ranks. Additionally, technical support will be provided by personnel from the special staff or the Anti-Auto Theft Squad.

The squads will focus on identified "hotspots" for crimes against women, with District Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) compiling a list of such locations. The squads will be required to patrol at least two vulnerable points daily.

Multi-faceted approach for safety

The squads will take a multi-faceted approach involving prevention, intervention, and victim assistance.

Officers working in plain clothes will carry out surprise checks in public transport and collaborate with DTC drivers, conductors, and passengers to encourage the reporting of harassment incidents. The directives stress ensuring victims are spared unnecessary public scrutiny or embarrassment.

District DCPs have been instructed to ensure that squad members operate with sensitivity, empathy, and self-motivation while handling cases.

With this initiative, Delhi Police aim to enhance women's safety in the capital, reinforcing its commitment to proactive law enforcement and crime prevention.