11 lakh potential eve-teasers under the watch

A whopping 11 lakh youths, who were designated as 'potential' eve teasers, were under the watch of Uttar Pradesh Power Line 1090, a state government initiative to save the women from harassment.

These youths were the ones against whom complaints of harassment of women had been registered in the past.

Inspector general of the Power Line Navneet Sikera said here that these youths were under the watch. ''We are keeping a constant watch on them,'' he said.

New year wishes

Interestingly the Power Line sent these youths text messages wishing them on the new year and at the same time cautioned them against doing anything silly this year.

Sikera said that as many as 10 lakh women had also been sent New year greetings and were advised to remain vigilant.

He said that the Power Line kept a watch of the complaints registered with it for at least two years.

The IG said that the majority of complaints pertained to harassment over the telephone. ''Such cases of harassment form 77 % of the total cases,'' he added.

606 everyday

Sikera said that an average of 606 complaints were registered by the Power Line every day  in 2017.

Women Power Line was established by the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government in 2012.

1090 is a toll-free number that is intended to provide immediate help to women, who had been harassed and take speedy action against the culprits.

The BJP government had a few months back set up anti-Romeo Squads in the state police to tackle cases of eve-teasing and act against molesters and eve teasers.

It came under attack from different quarters after complaints of innocent couples being harassed.