Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath launched a sharp attack on the law-and-order situation under the previous government. He stated that before 2017, dreaded mafias held sway in every district of the state. Parallel governments used to operate. Governments used to rub their noses before the mafia; they knelt before them and the police were helpless. “If the political leadership itself has a crooked backbone, how can it straighten law and order?”
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath addressed a function at the Lok Bhavan auditorium on Thursday. On the occasion, he flagged off 87 interceptor vehicles, conferred medals on brave police personnel and also released former DGP Prakash Singh’s book ‘Sangharsh’. Chief Minister said that after 2017, the government advanced police reforms.
The police reforms advocated by Prakash Singh were implemented first in the country by Uttar Pradesh. Seven police commissionerates are now functioning in the state. “Today, a coordination of three elements, ideas, valor and technology, can be seen before the UP Police.” Through ‘Sangharsh’, the experiences and challenges of police service have been brought to the fore, the valor of brave personnel has been honored and state-of-the-art interceptor vehicles for road safety have been dedicated to the police force.
Chief Minister stated, “It is easy to sit in a closed room and make any remark about anyone. No matter how powerful a person may be and how much pride they may have in their position, if their security is withdrawn, they would not take long to chicken out in an atmosphere of anarchy.” Healthy thinking is possible only in an atmosphere of security in society. The vision of prosperity can be realized only in a secure environment.
The UP Police theme, ‘Aapki Suraksha, Hamara Sankalp’, expresses this very sentiment. “When the Terai region was in the grip of terrorism, movement was possible only under the security of police and army. After sunset, movement would almost come to a halt. At that time, Prakash Singh faced these challenges as DGP.” Prakash Singh had to approach the Supreme Court for police reforms. Uttar Pradesh has taken important steps towards implementing police reforms.
Chief Minister said ideology is not merely words or an article, but also encompasses the challenges of practical life. Prakash Singh faced these challenges at every step during his service and completed his entire tenure. His ideology, which inspired the youth for a long time through lectures at various institutions, has now emerged in the form of a book. When conduct and thought align and move in the same direction, results emerge.
Referring to the law and order situation in the state before 2017, CM stated that at that time, people were turned away with the phrase, “UP wala”. There were major challenges for the police as well. If the political leadership itself cannot take decisions, it becomes difficult to control law and order. At that time, the condition of police reforms and infrastructure facilities was also unsatisfactory. Only around six thousand police personnel could be trained in a year. Police personnel had to live in dilapidated buildings.
PAC battalions had been disbanded. Curfews remained in force for long periods due to riots at several places, including Kosi Kalan, Meerut, Aligarh and Muzaffarnagar. Under these circumstances, Uttar Pradesh came to be described as a ‘BIMARU’ state. Challenges had emerged in various sectors, including the economy, employment, technology and implementation of welfare schemes. After 2017, efforts were made to change these circumstances and take the state forward.
CM Yogi said that, along with police reforms, integrating technology was also necessary. Under the Safe City goal, more than 14 lakh cameras have been installed in cities across the state. These cameras help prevent incidents and detect them. Integrated Command and Control Centres have been established in the districts. When technology is combined with ideas and conduct, its results also become visible. Today, this change is visible in the identity of the UP Police.
Chief Minister paid tribute to the valor of late Inspector Sunil Kumar Singh, a brave officer associated with the STF of UP Police. He stated that Government of India has honored him with ‘Kirti Chakra’ for his valor and that the UP Police has received this honor for the first time. Sunil Kumar Singh had killed four dreaded criminals in a face-to-face encounter on January 22, 2025.
During this, he was critically injured by the bullets fired by criminals and later made the supreme sacrifice. CM honored his wife and family members and paid tribute to his memory. He informed that at the program, 16 police officers and personnel were honored with the President’s gallantry awards, while 10 police officers and personnel were honored with the Chief Minister’s Gallantry Medal. CM congratulated all the brave police personnel.
Chief Minister stated that road safety is a major challenge for the state. During the two-and-a-half to three years of COVID, around 24 thousand people had died in the state, while 23-24 thousand people lose their lives in road accidents every year. “This can be controlled through technology and effective enforcement.”
With this objective, 87 interceptor vehicles equipped with state-of-the-art equipment have been dedicated to UP Police. Violation of road safety rules affects not only one person, but its impact extends to the entire family and ultimately to society. These interceptor vehicles will help ensure compliance with road safety standards and effective enforcement of traffic rules across districts.
On this occasion, Social Welfare Minister Asim Arun, former Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh Prakash Singh, Director General of Police of Uttar Pradesh Rajeev Krishna, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Sanjay Prasad, Swami Dharmabandhu, Pawan Agrawal of Prabhat Prakashan and senior officers of the Uttar Pradesh Police, personnel and their family members were present.
CM Yogi Adityanath flags off 87 state-of-the-art interceptor vehicles at Lok Bhavan
CM also honors brave police personnel and releases former DGP Prakash Singh’s book ‘Sangharsh’
It is easy to make remarks in a closed room; if security is withdrawn, even the most powerful person would not take long to become timid: CM
CM says Uttar Pradesh became the first state in country to implement police reforms, seven police Commissionerate are functioning
More than 14 lakh cameras monitoring crime, helping not only in detection of incidents but also in their prevention
UP Police receives Kirti Chakra for the first time, family of martyred Inspector Sunil Kumar honored
16 police personnel receive President’s Police Medal for Gallantry, 10 receive CM’s Gallantry Medal
