Adityanath as CM: Anti-Romeo squads get cracking in Ghaziabad, round up 32

The ‘anti-Romeo squads’ were one of the key election promises of BJP leaders such as Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath, who took over as UP chief minister.

Ghaziabad police’s newly formed ‘anti-Romeo squads’ on Wednesday rounded up at least 32 people as part of their drive to check harassment of women in public places.

HT Image(Sakib Ali/HT Photo)

Youngsters were taken by surprise on Wednesday after police teams in uniform and plainclothes started checking for suspicious activities outside college and school campuses in the city.

The ‘anti-Romeo squads’ were one of the key election promises of BJP leaders such as Amit Shah and Yogi Adityanath, who took over as UP chief minister.

“These men were found roaming around girls’ schools and colleges. Their credentials are being verified and will be let off with a warning if they do not have any criminal background. Their parents will be called. We have formed a team of 6-7 personnel, including women officers, as part of the squad,’” said Manish Mishra, circle officer (city).

Mishra said legal action will be taken against those with criminal records. The checks will now be a regular feature across the city, he said.

Earlier attempts at such moral policing had drawn criticism from residents.

But allaying such concerns, Uttar Pradesh director general of police Javeed Ahmad tweeted there’ll be no moral policing by the squad.

The police on Wednesday carried out checks in markets and premises outside Government Girls Inter College and DAV School in Vijay Nagar, outside ABES Engineering College on NH-24, outside Sushila College in Dayanand Nagar and Swarna Jayanti Park in Indirapuram.

A similar drive was carried out in Modi Nagar, in areas under Sihani Gate police station and Kavi Nagar.

“Six men were produced before an executive magistrate and challaned under section 151 of the Criminal Procedure code. Since it is their first offence, we will not recommend sending them to jail,” said Neeraj Singh, station house officer, Vijay Nagar.

A number of them were asked why they were roaming around girls’ colleges and told to produce identification documents.

The drive began on Tuesday in Jhansi and nearby Meerut districts. Police teams have been carrying out checks and patrolling near colleges, malls, parks and other public places.

The formation of “anti-Romeo squads” had figured Yogi Adityanath’s election speeches.