Swati Lakra, Hyderabad’s Additional Commissioner of Police, who initiated the She Teams to nab eve-teasing offenders, hopes there will be a day when the city won’t need anyone to check on eve-teasing.
What’s the progress with the She Teams initiatives?
We have taken into custody over 300 offenders, a few habitual offenders registered under Preventive Detention act.
Is this good news or bad news? Are you satisfied?
I would not want to use statistics as my measure of success. That just sets limits and boundaries. The most important thing is that women have started feeling safe in coming out and speaking in the open about issues unlike earlier. The message that she teams are watching has registered well in the surroundings.
Where do most eve-teasing offences occur?
In buses, near colleges and bus stops. We have even registered a few under the Nirbhaya Act.
What is the psychological state of these offenders? Do they fear the law?
The family backgrounds and upbringing of these people explains why they dare to tease a girl. There is so much discrimination against women that begins at home. Now boys who grow up watching this would naturally carry it in their behaviour outside.
Do martial arts help in times of need?
Martial arts can make a girl confident enough to get out of trouble. It helps!
Do you agree with the Chennai court’s statement on castrating proven offenders as punishment?
Yes! Instant punishment drives across the point of law and justice. That is why we have fast-track courts. No point punishing a person years after an offence as it does not serve the purpose.
Will She Teams last forever?
I hope not. I fondly hope that we wake up to a morning where we don’t need them anymore.