Are these anti-Romeo squads good for society, both in the short and long term? Yes, say a majority of women. The vigilante groups, drawn from the pathetic China Brass faucet accessories Manufacturers boys who member organisations like the Bajrang Dal, now have a new avenue of “goonda-ism” and extortion in the name of religion and cultural purity. These squads are expected to monitor activities of men in areas and at events where the presence of girls is large in number. Gujarat had such squads in the late 1990s for about two or three years.Several people appreciate this action and claim that due to this action the state also improved in controlling crimes against women. The “anti-Romeo” squads are somewhat like the famed encounter squads that roam in our cities. The encounter squads eliminate suspected or known mafia and these squads turn mere association of two genders into a viable space for their encounter!The obvious then is happening. This is the “Indian Taliban”. These goonda groups shall now roam the streets preventing crimes that are not happening.

If a man is caught eve-teasing or passing lewd comments, the police will call his parents and give a warning.The police say that they are experienced enough to identify Romeos by just looking into their eyes, faces, or the way they stand. Police squads are turning into harassment and extortion rackets, as happens in all parks and corners of India — where boys and girls come together. However, what are they actually doing? From television reportage it appears that vigilante groups from so-called “Hindu” organisations are searching streets, parks, etc. It has been made clear that no action should be taken by the police if boys and girls are consensually hanging out together.The concept of anti-Romeo squads is not new to India.If anyone believes that, except momentarily, harassment of women and violent crimes against them shall reduce is in a fool’s paradise.That women students are harassed is a harsh reality and the Uttar Pradesh government’s decision to give official sanction to these anti-Romeo squads is aimed at making the police force more accountable and preventing them from violating human rights in the name of ensuring the safety of women.

For these squads do not intervene at a hint or suspicion of trouble, they intervene at the hint of “cultural pollution”, when a girl and a boy are together in public.Police teams comprising of males and females move around schools, colleges and markets. The progress in last few years of women taking their place of equality in society, and doing what they wish, including social interaction, will regress, pushing them into the purdah of patriarchal and uniformed closets.The state government has instructed senior law enforcement officials to issue clear guidelines to these anti-Romeo squads to ensure both fair assessment and action. They are supposedly saving women from the evil designs of the men around them without any call for support from women. So when they see a couple, it doesn’t matter whether something was happening or not, their mere togetherness is polluting society, hence it’s a crime!