UP CM Yogi Adityanath keeps BJP's poll promise: Anti-Romeo squads swing into action in Lucknow

Three days in the office and the newly appointed Uttar Pradesh chief minister is at it in full throttle. In a series of new advisories and orders, Yogi Adityanath has sought to address some of the key issues, taken to be the priority of the BJP. As many remain apprehensive of the mood of the current ruling dispensation, the first few orders issued by the new UP chief minister also received mixed reactions.

Starting with the anti-romeo squad, which was one of the key promises in BJP’s election manifesto, Adityanath issued orders to constitute “anti-Romeo squad” in 11 districts of the Lucknow zone to prevent molestation and harassment cases. “In a bid to check incidents of eve-teasing and passing of comments on them (women and girls), anti-romeo dal would be constituted at the police station levels and action will be taken against them under the Goonda Act,” IG (Lucknow Zone) A Satish Ganesh said.

The Lucknow zone comprises 11 districts adjoining the state capital.

Following this came another advisory to check illegal cow slaughter as the IG’s order also said that attempts should be made to check cow slaughter and cattle smuggling effectively and those involved should be booked.

The IG said that in cases where investigation is complete, final report should be submitted in court and review of heinous crimes made so that those involved are sent behind bars.

The IG also directed the police to effectively check crime against women, arrest criminals carrying rewards, follow up on cases lodged under the Gangster Act, check activities of land mafia and curb the sale of illicit liquor.

Moreover, besides pulling up the law and order situation, the new BJP government also took note of the Swachh Bharat mission, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s pet project. Adityanath has on Wednesday, issued fresh advisory banning chewing of pan, pan masala, tobacco inside government office premises. Use of plastic carry bags within government offices has also been banned.

Meanwhile, according to a report by CNN-News18, the executive orders defining the exact role of the anti-romeo squad will be decided by the cabinet later. However their were fears, especially amid the youth of the minority communities, that the squad could be a guise for the administration to conduct moral-policing in the state, the news report said.

Javed Ahmed, Deputy General of Police, Uttar Pradesh, clarified that the police had no intentions but to ensure safety and security of women at public places. Speaking to the news channel he said, " Let me make it amply clear, we have no intention of preventing adults from meeting or doing whatever they want to do in public spaces or otherwise. The anti-romeo squad has been formed to book the eve-teasers and harassers who make public spaces unsafe for women." Ahmed also said that any attempts to carry out vigilantism of any sort, outside the purview of law, will be dealt with seriously.

The BJP’s “sankalp patra” (manifesto) during the Assembly polls promised constitution of “anti-Romeo” squads for checking harassment, besides checking activities of land mafia and cow slaughter.

With inputs from PTI