Within a month of its launch, the ‘Shishtachar Squads’ have detained more than six thousand people for various offences, including molestation, harassment and teasing. Established after a law and order review meeting by Home Minister Amit Shah, police Commissioner Sanjay Arora formed a dedicated anti-harassment team called the Shistachar Squad in all 15 police districts of Delhi. Every district was asked to form two dedicated teams of 12 members each. 

These quotes were formulated in the month of March to curb crime against women in the capital city. Senior Delhi police officials have also expressed the requirement for a one-day training program for the members of the squad to understand their duties better.

Data on Crime

According to a special police unit for women and children,1,055 drives were conducted between March 17 to April 24, which led to the detention of 6,584 people and the seizure of 275 vehicles. 

While some believe that the ‘Shishtachar Squad’ sounds eerily like Uttar Pradesh Police’s Anti-Romeo Squads set up by Yogi Adityanath when he took over in 2017. However, several officers from the Delhi Police’s Shishtachar squads told national media that they were strictly instructed not to impose their morals and ethics on the public and only focus on women’s safety.