CISF women staff pose as flyers, catch touts

Women personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have begun dressing up like travellers to catch touts and people who harass women. Several touts have so far been caught and booked. Faizan Haidar reports.

Women personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have begun dressing up like travellers to catch touts and people who harass women.

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The initiative initially began with an intention to catch touts who target women passengers, but began to yield positive results in terms of making the airport safer.

Several touts have so far been caught and booked. “Many of our women staff roam around the airport in casual clothing with a bag to pass off as flyers. With their help, we have caught many touts, who approached them after mistaking them to be flyers,” said a senior CISF official requesting anonymity. “This has also helped in keeping instances of harassment in check,” the official added.

Earlier, CISF used to see touts roaming in the arrival hall, but could not take any action as there was no complainant. With this move, the CISF women personnel are the complainants and the tout is booked under the Delhi Prevention of Touting and Malpractices against Tourist Act.

In the past one year, only 50 touts have been arrested, a significant fall from an average of 300 arrests every year. In 2008 and 2009 each, 275 touts were held. In 2010, the number was 219, but after that the number started decreasing.