| Shubham Singh | In a bid to curb incidents of eve-teasing during the Durga Puja celebrations, the Assam Police has reactivated its Anti-Romeo Squad in Cachar district. The move aims to ensure a safer environment for women and families visiting pandals during the festival, officials said.
Numal Mahatta, the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Cachar, announced on Tuesday that a specially trained team of male and female officers has been deployed across the district.
We have trained this squad for 15 days under specialists in martial arts and other defensive techniques. They are now well-equipped to handle any situation aggressively against eve-teasers during the festival, Mahatta said.
The Anti-Romeo Squad was first introduced in the district during the 2022 Durga Puja, leading to multiple arrests of individuals involved in harassment. Our aim is not just to make arrests, but to instill a sense of security and deterrence. We want society to know that the police are vigilant, the SP added.
Mahatta also emphasized that complaints of eve-teasing, particularly during the late hours of Durga Puja festivities, have been a recurring issue.
Families visit pandals until late at night, and we’ve received numerous complaints of inappropriate behavior towards young girls in the past. The formation of this special squad is to prevent such incidents.
The squad will primarily focus on urban areas, where the density of Durga Puja pandals is higher. According to police records, Cachar has the highest number of Durga Puja celebrations in Assam. Additionally, a detailed traffic roadmap has been prepared and circulated to ensure smooth movement during the festivities.
This initiative marks a proactive step by Assam Police to ensure a peaceful and safe Durga Puja for all.
