Outgoing DGP Prashant Kumar credits Yogi for ‘free hand' to deal with mafias, says ‘Op Conviction now on'
Kumar, who is considered a favourite of the chief minister, was appointed as the acting DGP of UP in January last year, and is set to retire on 31 May.
'After taking over in 2017, he (Yogi Adityanath) gave a very clear mandate to UP police, that was in the form of zero tolerance against crime and criminals. He picked up efficient, result-oriented people, who were posted to important places,' he said in an interview with ThePrint. That's when, he said, the process began—initially with taking action against mafias.
New Delhi: Outgoing Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Prashant Kumar has commended Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the 'free hand' that the latter gave to the police, and his 'blueprint to break the backbone of all the mafias'.
In the interview, Kumar pointed to Yogi laying down a blueprint to tackle mafias, by setting up a 'mafia task force', identifying all of them. '68 mafias were identified, who used to be monitored and are still monitored on a daily basis from our headquarters. We went against the main mafias, and their supporters…We broke the economic backbone of those mafias,' he told ThePrint, claiming that over Rs 4,000 crore worth of property was either seized or confiscated.
Of the identified mafias, he said, 33 are in jail, seven are dead and three absconding. 'So, the hunt is still on.'
Known for his tough stance towards gangsters in the state, Kumar explained that while the initial priority was instilling a fear of the law among criminals, the police shifted its focus to confiscating their illegally acquired properties. 'Now, we are going to 'Operation Conviction'. We are trying to get them convicted.'
He told ThePrint that from July 2023 to May 2025, the UP police have got over 93,000 people convicted, in sensitive and important cases, with capital punishments in 65 cases. Of these, over 7,800 people were handed life terms, and 1,395 were sentenced to over 20 years of imprisonment.
The force has doubled since the Yogi government took over, he added. 'Our strength is over 4 lakh. We just have vacancies of around 40,000. When this government took over, the whole strength was only 2 lakh…The police budget has also improved two and a half times.'
Kumar also spoke of other initiatives taken by the Yogi government, including removal of one lakh loudspeakers from religious places. 'That is religion neutral, it isn't like we targeted one community or religion,' he said.
Talking about encounter incidents in Uttar Pradesh, Kumar asserted, 'The police are not sitting ducks, that you fire and you kill. We have been given weapons, those are not ornaments for us, if somebody is firing at us, we will retaliate. Our people have also died.'
While there was speculation over a possible extension of service being granted to him, Kumar said that he is not 'hopeful' for any such order, and is planning to spend time with his family in Lucknow post retirement. 'Your well-wishers always wish you to continue, but retirement is pre-decided. The day we join, we know when we're going to retire,' he said.
Asked about his camaraderie with the chief minister, he told ThePrint, 'He (CM Yogi) had given a few assignments to me, and probably because of the results, I think that is the thing. It's just at the professional level, nothing personal in that.'
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Maha Kumbh to voter disruption claim
As UP's top cop, Kumar also oversaw the arrangements for the Maha Kumbh in Prayagraj earlier this year.
'Catering to more than 66 crore people, you can imagine the kind of efforts which must have gone in for hygiene, health, security, safety… Everything was meticulously planned. But for one small incident on Mauni Amavasya, I think everything went as per our plans,' he said.
The incident he was referring to was the stampede during Mauni Amavasya, that had left 30 dead and 60 injured. 'These things can happen. It was just a matter of a fraction of seconds, but immediately, we had a contingency plan which worked,' Kumar said, pointing out that there was no case of murder, chain snatching, misbehaviour and other crimes, which normally occur in big congregations.
'All our men, more than 50,000 security personnel were there, and they were managing things with only a whistle, a rope and a loud hailer,' he said.
Kumar also asserted that allegations of Muslims being stopped from voting in elections in Uttar Pradesh are incorrect and 'exxagerated'. His remarks came in the backdrop of claims that Muslim voters were obstructed from casting their votes during the assembly bypolls last year.
'These kinds of allegations are always there. Nowadays, in all elections of Members of Parliament, and assembly, there is a lot of presence of central forces, and observers are also there…In such general elections, the administration doesn't have much role. A lot of paramilitary is there, people come from outside. We strictly go by the directions of the Election Commission,' he said.
'Triple Talaq Bill a relief for minorities'
Kumar spoke of the 'positive impact' of the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, and its subsequent amendments, which made the law more stringent, providing for maximum punishment of life imprisonment for those found guilty of marrying a woman by deceiving her and illegally converting her religion.
'If you go to villages, some forceful conversion vitiates the atmosphere in the rural areas. Certain people, at a very young age, get carried away with such things, that leads to distortion in the society,' he remarked.
The law, along with other anti-conversion laws in various states, is currently under challenge in the Supreme Court, for being violative of the fundamental rights under Articles 14 (equality before law), 19 (freedom of speech and expression), 21 (right to life and personal liberty) and 25 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution.
However, Kumar asserted that the police bring in the law, only when necessary. 'If something is done forcefully, or there is some allurement, or if it is done with minors, then we intervene. Else every alert person is free…In rural areas, the situation becomes very very bad, if some interfaith or inter-religious things happen…if there is an elopement, which might lead to a law and order problem,' he said.
Commenting on the Centre's triple talaq bill, he said that it has 'given relief to the ladies from the minority community' and has had a 'very salutary effect in UP'.
'Bulldozer action began in UP'
Kumar also defended the showering of flower petals on Kanwariyas in Uttar Pradesh last year, with even police officers participating in the act. The officer said that it was part of 'government policy', and was not related to the UP Police.
'A lot of religious activities go on in this part of the country. Any religion, any festival, it's all grand in UP… There are certain festivals, which are very famous and attract a lot of crowd, and Kanwar yatra is one of those things. People travel from different states…We welcome everyone who comes here and we try to make their journey comfortable. They are all driven by faith,' he told ThePrint.
In those helicopters showering petals, he said, UP Police personnel accompanied the officials 'to have an aerial view for safety and security'.
At the beginning of April, the Supreme Court had come down heavily on the Prayagraj Development Authority for 'illegal' demolition of homes of six individuals in 2021, directing the authorities to pay Rs 10 lakh each to the house owners as compensation.
However, Kumar asserted that 'bulldozer is not our job', and is only used on illegal constructions, after notices are given. 'This was never heard of, these bulldozers…But it was started in UP for the first time. So it becomes a big thing, there's a lot of propaganda,' he remarked.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)
Also Read: UP expedites defence projects amid flare-up with Pakistan; BrahMos unit in Lucknow set to open
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