Policemen are planning to flex their muscles on the city streets to send teasers and petty criminals who harass women scurrying for cover.

Twice every week, the men-in-uniform would take out flag marches on the streets. The show of strength, senior officers feel, would scare away roadside Romeos and chain snatchers.

Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Manu Maharaj on Friday said a plan was being chalked out in this regard. “The purpose is to show a strong police presence on the streets.”

The senior officer added: “We have often observed that a number of people keep standing aimlessly outside schools, colleges and public places. Many of them tease women and girls passing by, while some of them are snatchers and petty criminals.

“The police have been nabbing such people from time to time. But regular flag marches would instil confidence among the people. Personnel from the Quick Mobile service (who already patrols the streets) would carry out the flag march.”

The exact date when the marches would begin has not been decided yet. It is expected to start next week. Details of how and when the marches would be conducted are still being worked out.

Another officer added that there has been a recent spurt in eve-teasing, snatching and bootlegging in many areas of Patna.

“The urban area of Patna, which also includes Patna City, has around 25 police stations. Members of Quick Mobile service posted at different police stations would form teams to patrol the streets. For instance, personnel from the Kotwali, the Gandhi Maidan and the Pirbahore police stations can form a team together and patrol the streets for a few hours,” said the officer.

“If they find persons loitering near schools and colleges, the policemen would immediately accost them and ask them to explain what they are doing,” said SSP Maharaj.

Learning about the initiative, people hailed it. “Incidents of eve-teasing have increased in the city. On May 16, a married woman was abused and teased by a group of drunks on Jagat Narayan Road in the Kadamkuan area. An FIR has been lodged. But police need to act to prevent such incidents,” said Ravi Kumar Sah, a resident of the area, adding that the flag marches were a good idea.

Sources said the police usually take out flag marches whenever there is trouble in any part of the city.

“In a flag march, a large group of policemen walk down a particular area. For instance, if an area is communally sensitive, and there is a religious occasion like Ram Navami or Muharram, the police take out flag marches to dissuade troublemakers and let the people know that the cops are there to help them,” said the officer.