Cops Launch "She Teams" To Curb Eve-Teasing

The city police on Friday launched 100 "She Teams" to curb eve-teasing in the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

The "She Teams" will be working under the direct supervision of Swati Lakra, Additional Commissioner of Police, Crimes & SIT.

The city police have already identified and plotted the places and timings where eve-teasing is prominent. These places will be under the surveillance of these teams.

As part of this exercise, the stalkers will be identified and brought to the CCS Police Station. Counselling will be done in the presence of the stalkers' family members in the police station. Their activity sheets will be prepared and kept in a central database, and their activities will be monitored on a daily basis.

Besides initiating legal action as per the provisions of the law, the police will also initiate stringent action under the Nirbhaya Act if a stalker comes to adverse notice repeatedly.

The victim's name and identity will be kept confidential.

100 will be the helpline to lodge all complaints in this regard. The "She Teams" already in the field will swing into action immediately after receiving the call, in addition to acting on their own.

Awareness programmes will also be conducted throughout Hyderabad for women, who will be encouraged to come out openly. Men will also be informed about the consequences of teasing and sexual harassment, and the stringent laws existing to protect women at open places, in transit and at work places.

Public transport service drivers and conductors, and MMTS train staff have been asked to either "dial 100" or take the vehicle to the nearest police station upon information from women of harrassment.

All the persons arrested by the "She Teams" will be presented to the media.

A proposal to the Government to enact a new law on eve-teasing, on the lines of the AP Anti Ragging Act and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Eve Teasing Act, is also in the pipeline, according to the Police Commissioner. (INN)