Sambalpur: Road Romeos Return in Front of Educational Institutions; Sambalpur’s ‘We Squad’ Disappears in 6 Years
Sambalpur: In just six years, Sambalpur police’s ‘We Squad’ initiative has vanished, resulting in a resurgence of Road Romeos near educational institutions. As a result, these troublemakers are once again loitering outside schools, colleges, and other educational institutions, harassing female students with obscene comments and inappropriate behavior.
Resurgence of Road Romeos
Despite previous efforts, Road Romeos has started gathering near various educational institutions in Sambalpur. Notably, Lady Lewis Girls’ High School and the Government Women’s College have experienced an increase in such incidents. Female students have reported being followed and harassed, but are often too scared to tell their parents or teachers.
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Police Initiative ‘We Squad’ Fades Away
To address this issue, the Sambalpur Police Department launched the ‘We Squad’ campaign in 2018. This initiative, led by a female DSP and a ten-person team, organized workshops in schools and colleges to teach women about their safety and self-defense. In addition, a dedicated mobile number was provided for immediate assistance. Undercover police officers were also stationed near educational institutions to apprehend offenders. Within a year, 106 people were apprehended for eve-teasing, the majority of whom were minors.
Current Scenario: Lack of Action
However, six years later, the lack of consistent police action and restrictions has allowed these miscreants to reclaim their positions near educational institutions. The previous crackdown by the ‘We Squad’ had significantly reduced eve-teasing, stalking, and voyeurism.
Call for Action
Intellectuals and concerned citizens are now calling for the revival of the ‘We Squad’ to combat the growing threat. Regular police patrolling and strict action against these Road Romeos are clearly required to ensure student safety and restore peace around Sambalpur’s educational institutions.
