ALLAHABAD: Four days ago, the volunteers of Women Rights Organization removed as many as 28 music systems from tempos near Civil Lines alleging that drivers were playing vulgar songs and creating an annoying situation for women commuters.

The volunteers had acted on a complaint by a girl who had had a heated argument over the matter with some drivers. The organization has threatened to carry out similar drives if the drivers do not mend their ways.

Three traffic policemen assisted the volunteers of the organisation while they did the job. The women destroyed many music systems by throwing them on the ground. Locals welcomed the step. Many tempo drivers escaped from the scene after seeing the ire of the volunteers.

The apparent failure of the police force to tighten the noose around eve teasers has the led the fairer sex in the city to take on themselves to teach a lesson to eve-teasers and roadside Romeos. In the past two months, three women have given it back to stalkers and anti-social elements in separate incidents. Last September, a local girl had set the bike of a stalker on fire near Katra.

In the past two months, the police have registered 13 cases of eve-teasing\stalking and claimed to have arrested the accused. Last year, the police had registered 67 such cases.

However, despite the police claiming to have installed CCTV sets outside colleges and displaying important phone numbers, complaints regarding eve teasing are rising at all police stations.

Vartika Singh, a social worker, says, "There is need of strict implementation of laws to curb the menace. The criminal law (amendment) act 2013 brought in the aftermath of the Nirbhaya gangrape has been welcomed as a big measure towards women's safety".

However, there is a need to take preventive measures to check the menace and many people think the absence of a provision for getting a restraining order against the accused can lead to more serious abuse when the accused was bailed out, she added.

SP, city, Rajesh Yadav says, "The police department has introduced three measures - special team of women cops, mobile van and helpline - to check the cases of eve teasing.

"Once the control room receives a complaint, the mobile van or women cops team is directed to the spot and take necessary measures," he said.

"The cops first counsel the accused and if he does not mend his ways, legal action is taken," he added.

Yadav claimed the police was taking prompt action on complaints but city girls have a different opinion. They feel that stern and prompt action is needed against those involved in eve teasing as any delay in action defeats the purpose.

