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Time of India
9 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Making UP safer for all; force moreprofessional, among priorities: DGP
Lucknow: Pledging to work towards taking the UP Police to "unprecedented heights of excellence," Rajeev Krishna, the newly appointed director general of police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh, on Monday outlined a comprehensive 10-point roadmap for policing reforms. Addressing his first media interaction since taking charge, the DGP said that law and order will remain a top and non-negotiable priority for the police force, which will take decisive steps to create a safer environment for all citizens. Expressing gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for reposing faith in his leadership, the DGP said the opportunity to lead the world's largest police force was a "significant responsibility." Listing zero-tolerance on crime, deeper citizen engagement, enhancing law enforcement efficiency through widespread use of technology, and ensuring accountability as his priorities, the DGP said, "Crimes against women will be met with sensitivity and urgency. Women's safety will be at the core of the policing strategy, with renewed efforts both to prevent such crimes and to respond effectively through legal and enforcement mechanisms. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo " The DGP emphasised that the police would also engage in community outreach to foster a sense of security and empowerment among women. The DGP also confirmed that recruitment for more police personnel is in advanced stages and will be rolled out soon. "This large-scale recruitment is aimed at strengthening ground-level policing and bridging critical manpower gaps to ensure quicker response and better reach in urban and rural areas alike," he said. Public grievance redressal will also be placed at the heart of the police-citizen interface, said the DGP while assuring that every citizen's voice would be heard and addressed promptly. The platforms such as the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRS) and Jan Sunwai portals will be made more effective and citizen-friendly, he said. As part of efforts to modernise policing, the DGP placed strong emphasis on the use of artificial intelligence, data analytics, and predictive technologies. Acknowledging that cybercrime has become one of the most pressing challenges in recent times, he assured that the UP Police is already working to enhance its digital crime-fighting capabilities. The DGP stressed the need to identify and deploy officers with specialised skill sets in cybercrime, forensics, counterterrorism, and community policing to professionalise the force and improve its effectiveness across all domains. He added that continuous in-service training would be treated as a strategic imperative to keep the force aligned with evolving law enforcement challenges. Internally, the welfare of police personnel will be given focused attention. The DGP said that resolving both administrative and personal issues faced by personnel would be a top priority to ensure they remain motivated, efficient, and ready for duty. The DGP also spoke about the need to strengthen anti-terror capabilities and border coordination. Referring to his own role in the formation of the UP Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) in 2007 following a spate of serial blasts, he said the ATS's structure and technology would be upgraded to meet new and emerging challenges. "The coordination with central agencies and border forces like the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) along the Nepal border will be deepened to counter trans-border terrorism and trafficking more effectively," he said. The DGP also promised to look into the problems and challenges posed by traffic in cities. "Besides, we also aim to make the DGP headquarters more citizen-friendly, where people can come and get their grievances addressed," he said. "Under the visionary leadership of the Chief Minister, we are ready to set new benchmarks in law enforcement. Our mission is clear — to serve the people of Uttar Pradesh with integrity, discipline, and excellence," he said.
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Uttar Pradesh's new DGP unveils 10-point policing roadmap with tech focus, zero tolerance for crime
Newly appointed (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh Rajeev Krishna LUCKNOW: The newly appointed Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh has outlined a roadmap for overhauling the state's law enforcement machinery, pledging zero tolerance towards crime, improved public service delivery, and greater use of advanced technology, including artificial intelligence. In his first interaction, the DGP expressed heartfelt gratitude to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for placing his trust in him to lead the world's largest police force. He described it as a 'significant responsibility' and vowed to take the UP Police to 'unprecedented heights of excellence.' He noted that the past eight years of policing under the Chief Minister's dynamic leadership have provided strategic clarity and consistency. Building on this foundation, the DGP said the police force would now advance with renewed energy and sharper focus to ensure a secure, responsive, and technologically empowered policing environment across the state. A strong emphasis will be placed on a zero-tolerance policy towards crime and criminals. The DGP asserted that the police would adopt an uncompromising stance against all forms of criminal activity, particularly organised crime, and work decisively to create a safer environment for all citizens. Women's safety will also be a core priority, with a renewed focus on both preventing and effectively addressing crimes against women. Efforts will also be made to foster a sense of empowerment and security among women through outreach and enforcement initiatives. Public grievance redressal will be at the heart of the police-citizen interface, with the DGP assuring a sensitive and empathetic approach at all levels. 'We will ensure that every citizen's voice is heard and responded to without delay,' he said. Maintaining law and order will remain a non-negotiable priority, with strict action promised against anyone attempting to disturb peace and public harmony. Recognising the growing menace of cybercrime, particularly in the post-COVID era, the DGP said the Uttar Pradesh Police has already taken steps to strengthen its digital crime-fighting infrastructure. These capabilities will be further enhanced with the integration of advanced technologies and predictive tools. Artificial intelligence, he added, will be a game changer—enabling smarter decision-making, optimised resource use, and proactive policing. The DGP also pledged to improve the reach and efficiency of citizen-facing police services, making them more accessible, responsive, and aligned with public needs. Internally, the welfare of police personnel will receive focused attention. The leadership aims to address both administrative and personal challenges faced by personnel to ensure they remain motivated and mission-ready. He further emphasised the need to identify and deploy officers with specialised skills in key areas of policing to foster a culture of professionalism and excellence within the ranks. Technological modernisation will go hand in hand with institutional reforms. The police chief said artificial intelligence and data-driven policing models will play a critical role in improving operational outcomes. 'Technology will enhance our efficiency and accountability at all levels,' he said. The importance of ongoing training and capacity-building will also be prioritised. The DGP said continuous in-service training would be treated as a strategic imperative to prepare the force for evolving law enforcement challenges. 'These ten focus areas will act as guiding principles for the UP Police going forward,' he said, adding that the entire force stands united in its commitment to law, justice, and public service. 'Under the visionary leadership of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, we are ready to set new benchmarks in law enforcement. Our mission is clear to serve the people of Uttar Pradesh with integrity, discipline, and excellence.'
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
UP Police podcast highlights high profile probes
Lucknow: In a pioneering step toward transparency, public engagement and digital outreach, the Uttar Pradesh Police launched a rare crime-focused podcast series under its official audio platform, 'Beyond the Badge'.This new series marks a significant expansion of the podcast, aiming to highlight the meticulous investigative work of police officers in cracking some of the most sensational and complex crimes in the state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The initiative stems from a directive issued by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, who emphasised the need to publicise achievements, innovations and public service efforts of the police through modern and accessible platforms. In response, the 'Beyond the Badge' podcast was launched in January 2025. A rare format: What sets this new podcast series apart is its documentary-style narrative, focusing on real criminal cases investigated by the UP Police. Each episode features interviews with the officers who led these investigations, offering an in-depth look into how cases were solved using a combination of human intelligence, technical surveillance, forensic analysis and tireless groundwork. The first episode in the crime series dives into a massive ₹100-crore insurance fraud case unearthed in Sambhal district. The episode features IPS Officer Anukriti Sharma, Superintendent of Police (south Sambhal), who led the investigation that uncovered multiple organised crime syndicates operating across the region. Speaking on the podcast, SP Anukriti Sharma explains how these syndicates exploited govt health and insurance schemes by forging documents, manipulating Aadhaar data and bribing local agents such as ASHA workers, village secretaries and bank officials. The gangs would fraudulently issue insurance policies in the names of poor, illiterate or deceased individuals, open fake nominee bank accounts and claim the payouts after orchestrated deaths or by faking them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "In some cases, they even insured dead individuals and later claimed they died again to obtain benefits," said Sharma. "There were also instances where young men were insured for crores of rupees and then murdered to claim the insurance." The episode outlines how the UP Police used data analytics, technical surveillance and meticulous coordination with insurance companies and banks to track the scam. Several key arrests were made, and links to a wider network operating in multiple districts were uncovered. A public call for vigilance:Through the podcast, SP Sharma also issues a strong appeal to citizens, urging them to avoid handing over Aadhaar, PAN cards, thumbprints, or other personal documents without full verification. She cautions people to apply for any govt scheme only through official channels and to remain alert to suspicious activities, such as individuals who suddenly become wealthy or show unexplained behaviour. "If you see something unusual in your community—be it suspicious deaths, sudden wealth, or coercion—report it to the police immediately," she advises. "These crimes thrive in silence. Community awareness is our first line of defence." A new face of police communication: The crime podcast series is a landmark initiative for any Indian law enforcement agency. By using storytelling as a tool, UP Police aims to build transparency, increase public trust, and educate citizens about modern policing techniques and crime trends. Episodes of the 'Beyond the Badge' podcast are available on popular streaming platforms and the official UP Police channels. The department plans to release future episodes covering cybercrime, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and other high-stakes investigations from across the state. This initiative not only humanises the police force but also offers the public a rare look at the complexity, risks and dedication involved in solving real-life crimes.
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Hindustan Times
Prisoner until proven innocent: A five-decade ordeal
Lakhan Pasi was sleeping inside his thatched hut in Gourey village when his wife Pyari Devi woke him up. It was around 4pm on August 5, 1977. Pyari told him that 15-16 people in the neighbourhood were fighting near the village well with sticks and lathis. 'When I went, I saw Deshraj had attacked Prabhu, who was bleeding. They had an old enmity. Police came and took Prabhu to the hospital, where doctors declared him dead,' said Lakhan. Night was falling so Lakhan came home and narrated the gory story to his family of eight people. He then went to sleep, waking up the next morning to slip back into his mundane routine of watering his field. According to Lakhan, Deshraj (single name) was angry with Prabhu (single name), his neighbour, as the latter's cattle would stray into his farm and destroy crops. A day before the murder, on August 4, 1977, there was a scuffle between the two on the same issue. Deshraj's mother, who tried to intervene, suffered a fracture in her hand. This infuriated Deshraj and his family leading to Prabhu's murder the next day. The next night, police barged into Lakhan's humble household, and frogmarched the 56-year-old man to the police station along with three other accused including Deshraj, Kaleshwar and Kallu. 'Prabhu's brother, Rajaram (single name), had included my name also in the first information report and the police arrested me along with three others,' Lakhan said. Earlier that evening, the UP Police had lodged an FIR at the Sarai Aqil Police Station under Sections 323 and 308 of the Indian Penal Code for voluntarily causing hurt and attempting to commit culpable homicide not amounting to murder against Deshraj, his brother and brother-in-law, Kaleshwar and Kallu,respectively, and Lakhan, on a complaint by Rajaram. The sordid saga that began on August 6, 1977 ended finally last week, when the Allahabad high court acquitted Lakhan and said in its order dated May 2, 2025: 'Appellant no.1 Lakhan and appellant no.2 Deshraj shall be set free, if they are in jail, and in the event, they are on bail, their bail bonds shall stand discharged subject to compliance of Section 437-A of the CrPC, provided they are not wanted in any other case.' The Dalit man walked out of jail on May 20,2025, at 104, having spent nearly five decades behind bars – his plight an indictment of police overreach, gaps in investigation, the problems faced by poor and marginised people in accessing justice, and endemic delays in the judicial system. Convicted in 1982 The FIR filed by Rajaram on August 6, 1977, alleged that on the previous night, at around 4pm, his cousin Pran was on his way to Vikrama Talab to bathe. The villagers, Lakhan, Deshraj, Kaleshwar and Kallu, armed with lathis, assaulted Pran, who then raised the alarm, the FIR said. Rajaram, along with his brothers Prabhu and Chandan, rushed to help him but they were also assaulted. Soon, witnesses Shukru, Gurudeen, Bhaiyalal also reached the spot to rescue the victims. Rajaram said Prabhu, who had received lathi blows on his neck, fell unconscious. According to court records, there was also an old enmity between Rajaram and Deshraj. After the FIR was lodged, the injured were referred to district hospital, Beli, Allahabad. The medical report said Prabhu sustained injuries to forehead, face, and chest. Prabhu died on August 7 at 10.05pm. The case was heard by the sessions court on August 17, 1980, which framed charges against the four on November 18, 1980, under sections 302/34 (for Prabhu's murder) and section 307/34 (Pran and Rajaram's assault). During the trial, Lakhan's counsel, hired by his wife Pyari, denied his involvement in the conflict. After further pleas, the four were convicted by the additional sessions judge of the Allahabad high court on November 2, 1982. The appeals made in the court after this remained pending for nearly five decades. They were sentenced to life imprisonment and four years rigorous imprisonment — both of which were to run concurrently. Two of the four accused, Kallu and Kaleshwar, died in 2013 and 2014, respectively. Their appeals were abated on September 17, 2015 and April 6, 2015, respectively, while Deshraj became and continues to be bedridden. The high court said in its May 2 order: 'The improbability of the prosecution regarding the genesis and events and the manner in which the incident were unfolded, created a doubt on the prosecution case, which has not been examined by the Court below. The defence has clearly probabilised its version, which cannot be overlooked. The findings of the Trial Court that prosecution had established its case beyond reasonable doubt, therefore, cannot be sustained. The accused appellants are clearly entitled to benefit of doubt in the matter.' Lakhan's family spent in lakhs and the family changed four counsel during the case. They sold most of their 13 bighas of land. Pyari Devi died in 2013. 'We were very young. I remember my mother selling everything to get my father acquitted. Till her last days, she kept on saying that my father was just standing and never hit anyone,' said Lakhan's daughter Asha Devi. Two jails, 48 years and countless delays later According to Lakhan, he was granted parole on three occasions, though he was unable to recollect the dates or the names of the counsel who appeared on his behalf. Lakhan spent his time in two jails. Soon after their arrest, the four of them were lodged in Naini Central Jail of Prayagraj (then Allahabad). The Kaushambi jail was established in 2014, after which they were moved to the district jail there. Things started moving last year, when the high court took suo motu cognisance of the case, while seeking to dispose of its pending cases. Kaushambi jail superintendent Ajitesh Kumar said the court appointed Manmohan Mishra as amicus curie in the case. Lakhan was finally acquitted on May 2, after the court gave its verdict stating the prosecution could not prove his involvement in the murder. 'For the forgoing reasons and discussion held above, the present appeal succeeds and is allowed. The Judgment and Order of conviction dated 02.11.1982 passed by learned Additional Sessions Judge IV, Allahabad in Sessions Trial No.162 of 1980, is hereby set-aside,' said the order by the bench comprising justices Vivek Kumar Birla and Nand Prabha Shukla. However, things did not end there. 'Two days after the verdict, Lakhan's daughter Asha Devi apprised us that she could not afford a counsel, to facilitate Lakhan's release, owing to poverty. I wrote a letter to DLSA (District Legal Services Authority), Kaushambi on May 4, which appointed advocate Ankit Maurya to expedite Lakhan's release,' Kumar said. The DLSA or the legal aid committee of high court do not directly step into the release process of a prisoner. The jailer, who after assessing the inability of a prisoner to hire a counsel owing to financial constraints, gets in touch with the DLSA through an application signed by the prisoner. Kumar added that even with a counsel, it took 18 days for Lakhan to step out of jail due to administrative delays. 'It took 18 days of struggle against these hurdles and we received his release order on the morning of May 20. He was released in the afternoon,' Kumar added. 'Several factors lead to cases pending in appeal for long durations in high courts. Lack of surety bonds, non-availability of adequate strength of judges, lack of resources deterring hiring of counsel by accused, the accused being out on bail for long periods, etc., could be some reasons,' said former Allahabad high court judge, justice Pankaj Naqvi. The same applies to delays in the filing of charge sheets. Retired IPS officer and former IG (Prayagraj Zone) KP Singh said there should be a provision to fix the transfer deadline of every police personnel so that new cases are not allocated to an officer nearing his transfer date. 'Presently, on transfer of an investigating officer, the probe is left in a lurch with the new incumbent unaware of the details of the case. The new officer sometimes begins the probe all over again, resulting in delay in filing of charge sheet,' Singh said. Helpless but indignant It's been almost two weeks since Lakhan was released. Lying on a cot under a roofed verandah of his daughter's one room, mud wall house in Pashchim Sharira area of Kaushambi, the 104-year-old has a shadow on his gaunt face. His family of five daughters and a son has withered – two have died. He barely knows his grandchildren, who were born when he was in jail. Asha Devi said her father does not talk much or interact with anyone. 'He keeps lying on the cot and stares at the roof most of the day. At times he remembers my mother and asks what happened to her in her last days,' she said, with tears in her eyes. She is helpless but indignant. 'Should any innocent person be kept behind bars for so long?' she asked. Lakhan appears resigned to his fate. 'What had I done? The officials didn't listen to me, and sent me to jail. Now what is left?' he asked. 'Everyone is dead. Only I am alive.'
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Hindustan Times
‘Beyond the Badge' podcast: UP Police launches new series to share investigative breakthroughs
Real stories from the officers who cracked Uttar Pradesh's most chilling crimes are now coming straight from the source. The state police has rolled out a new crime series under its podcast 'Beyond the Badge', bringing listeners face-to-face with the investigations behind major cases. The latest series opens with the Sambhal insurance fraud worth over ₹100 crore, where a gang is accused of murdering people after taking out insurance policies in their names. In the matter, as many as 15 FIRs were registered at various police stations of different districts and at least 40 accused were arrested so far. Later, the central agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) also came in to probe the case, suspecting major money laundering was involved in the matter. According to a press release issued by the UP Police headquarters on Saturday, the initiative is aimed at giving the public an insight into how the police force works behind the scenes and raising awareness about various types of crimes and their modus operandi. The inaugural episode highlights a recently busted insurance fraud in Sambhal, where a criminal network involving insurance agents, bank staff, ASHA workers, and village secretaries was exposed. The gang operated across 12 states in the country. The perpetrators allegedly opened bank accounts under the names of the nominees of these unsuspecting policyholders. After the victims' deaths, the gang would claim the insurance payouts. Notably, the case gained further attention due to its sinister details. In certain instances, young boys were reportedly murdered after insurance policies were fraudulently obtained in their names. At least four cases of people being murdered to claim their high-value insurance claims had surfaced in the police investigation IPS officer Anukriti Sharma, currently posted as additional superintendent of police (ASP), South Sambhal, played a crucial role in the investigation. In the podcast, she shared how her team combined human and technical intelligence to unravel the scam. In the podcast, she explained that the gang manipulated identification documents, including Aadhaar cards, altering names, ages, and other details to show a death record matching the insured individual. In some cases, they even used another person's corpse to falsely claim the death of the insured. 'Public cooperation is vital in curbing such crimes. If anyone notices irregularities or suspects fraud, they should report it to the authorities immediately,' she said in the podcast. The UP Police plans to release more episodes featuring other high-profile cases in the coming weeks. The podcast is available on the official social media platforms of the Uttar Pradesh Police.
