'She Teams' file 40 plaints against stalkers

Hyderabad Police have booked 40 cases under the initiative 'She Teams' within a week of its launching and also warned that repeated offenders will be booked under the stringent Nirbhaya Act.
City police had on October 24 launched 'She Teams' to provide security to women and curb incidents of eve-teasing and stalking thereby creating a safe environment for women.
"So far 40 offenders have been nabbed, which include 10 juveniles. As many as 40 cases have been booked against the offenders and they fell under the age bracket of 16-68 years," Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Swathi Lakra told reporters here today.

The common offences were found to be filming girls, women without their knowledge, involving in inappropriate touch inside public transports, passing lewd comments, approaching women for sexual favours, she said.
Armed with video cameras, 100 teams of five personnel each, including a woman cop in civil clothes have been keeping a vigil near colleges, bus stands, hospitals and are closely monitoring such instances, Lakra said.
"Our teams are closely monitoring areas near colleges and other places using video cameras. This will help in evidence. For first time offenders, we are booking them under petty cases. Irrespective of their age and nature of the offence, stalkers and their parents/relatives were counselled by officers," she said.

With an aim to reform youths caught in such acts, the officer said that the boys/men will be included as a part of anti-eve teasing campaigns conducted by 'She Teams'.

The repeated offenders, however, will be booked under stringent IPC sections and also Nirbhaya Act, she said.
Most of stalkers were students and belonged to middle class and lower middle class engaged in menial works.
"We expect youth/men should change their behaviour towards women," Lakra said, adding that girls and women should also voluntarily come forward to lodge complaint with the police.