Mon Mar 17 20:06:50 UTC 2025: **Delhi Police Launches “Etiquette Squads” to Combat Sexual Harassment**

NEW DELHI – The Delhi Police launched 30 new squads, dubbed “Shishtachar” (etiquette), dedicated to tackling sexual harassment in public spaces. The initiative, announced March 8th, comes approximately 40 days after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, fulfilling a campaign promise to enhance women’s safety. Each squad, composed of male and female officers including plainclothes female personnel, will operate in high-risk areas, conducting daily checks in vulnerable locations and interacting with residents, market and welfare associations. The squads will focus on proactive measures, including surprise checks on public transport and engaging with drivers and passengers. Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora emphasized that enforcement must occur “without cultural or personal morality” bias, with legal action to be taken under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Performance will be monitored through weekly and monthly reports based on feedback from various sources, including police control rooms.

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Mon Mar 17 20:06:50 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Police Launches “Etiquette” Squads to Combat Public Sexual Harassment

**NEW DELHI, March 18, 2025** – The Delhi Police has announced the deployment of 30 new squads, dubbed “Shishtachar” (etiquette), dedicated to tackling sexual harassment of women in public spaces. The initiative, announced nearly 40 days after the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) victory in the Delhi Assembly elections, fulfills a campaign promise to enhance women’s safety. Each squad, comprising male and female officers, will operate in high-risk areas, conducting daily checks in at least two vulnerable locations.

According to a circular issued by Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora, the squads will include plainclothes female officers to identify and deter perpetrators. They will also interact with public transport staff and passengers, and engage with local community groups to identify additional high-risk areas. The teams are instructed to handle cases sensitively and ensure swift legal action under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Commissioner Arora emphasized that law enforcement should be conducted “without any bias stemming from cultural or personal morality.”

Performance will be monitored through weekly reports submitted by each district’s Crime Against Women Cell, culminating in monthly evaluations based on feedback from various sources, including schools, colleges, and residents’ welfare associations. The move mirrors similar “Anti-Romeo Squads” previously introduced in Uttar Pradesh.

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