‘Misleading': DGP rejects Akhilesh's charge of caste-based police posting
A day after Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleged caste discrimination in police posting in Uttar Pradesh and claimed that officers from backward and minority communities were underrepresented in police, particularly at the level of station house officers (SHOs), the state DGP in a sharp reaction rebutted the former CM's statement, calling it 'misleading' and 'rumour'.
Stating that those holding responsible posts should stay away from making such misleading comments, DGP Prashant Kumar said: 'Such information is baseless… It is our responsibility to present factual data and maintain public trust. We appeal to all to stay away from rumours and not raise unwarranted questions on the police system.'
Referring to the data released by several district police on Monday to counter the claims made by Akhilesh Yadav, the DGP said: '…the concerned districts too have contradicted the same and have released the actual data in this regard. If any such information is circulated in the coming future, they will bring out the truth.'
'The claims being circulated on social media about caste-based postings are baseless… All postings across Uttar Pradesh are being done strictly as per established norms and guidelines,' he added.
Speaking to mediapersons in Prayagraj on Sunday, Akhilesh Yadav had given specific numbers of SHOs and their castes in certain districts, alleging most of them belong to Thakur community and that there were negligible number of those belonging to PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak or minorities) in police postings, particularly at the level of station house officers (SHOs).
'In Agra, out of 48 police stations, only 15 SHOs are from the PDA (Backward, Dalit, and Minority) communities. The rest are all from the 'Singh bhai log',' Yadav had said, using a colloquial term to refer to the Thakur community.
He had cited similar examples from Mainpuri, Chitrakoot, and Mahoba districts and accused the BJP government of following a 'divide and rule' policy by dividing society along caste and religious lines.
On Monday, several district police across the state released statements highlighting caste break-up of policemen.
Agra police, in a statement, claimed that 39 per cent of policemen belong to the OBCs, and 18 per cent to the Scheduled Caste, 'while the set standard for the OBC posting is 27 per cent'.
Akhilesh, on the other hand, had claimed that out of 48 police stations in Agra, only 15 SHOs belong to PDA communities and the remaining are from the Thakur community.
He had also mentioned the districts of Mainpuri, Chitrakoot, and Mahoba.
In Mainpuri, Akhilesh had claimed that out of 15, there are 3 SHOs from PDA and 10 Thakurs.
Mainpuri police on Monday claimed that there are 31 per cent OBCs and 19 per cent SC policemen posted in the district.
Chitrakoot police claimed that out of 12 police stations, three OBC SHOs, two SC/STs and seven belonging to other classes are posted.
Prayagraj police said the SHOs are appointed based on devotion to duty, honesty, a sense of social harmony, and sensitivity towards public complaints. The Commissionerate claimed that there are 40 per cent OBC and SC/ST policemen posted as SHOs in Prayagraj.
Meanwhile, calling for restraint, DGP Prashant Kumar urged political leaders and the public to avoid drawing hasty conclusions based on incomplete or inaccurate information.
However, Akhilesh Yadav on Monday remained steadfast in his statement. In a post on X, he said, '90 per cent PDA has only 25 per cent representation in Prayagraj Police. This is 'proportional injustice' being done to PDA.'
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