New DGP assumes charge, defends ‘encounters’
Promises there will be no leniency in police crackdown on notorious criminals
LUCKNOW: Newly appointed UP director general of police OP Singh on Tuesday defended police ‘encounters’ and said there would be no change in the UP police’s ongoing action against hardened criminals. “Policemen try to nab criminals, who often open fire. The cops are left with no other option but to retaliate,” he said. A 1983 batch IPS officer, Singh assumed charge as the DGP on Tuesday.
LUCKNOW: Newly appointed Uttar Pradesh director general of police OP Singh on Tuesday defended police ‘encounters’ and said there would be no change in the UP police’s ongoing action against hardened criminals. “Policemen try to nab criminals, who often open fire. The cops are left with no other option but to retaliate,” he said.
A 1983 batch IPS officer, Singh assumed charge as the DGP on Tuesday after being relieved as the DG, CISF on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference here, he said there would be no leniency in the police crackdown on notorious criminals across the state. “We will be in pursuit of the criminal gangs and if they challenge the police might, our men will hit back,” he said.
Since March 2017, the UP police have killed 31 and injured 180 criminals in 921 encounters while arresting 1835 of them. The force had also launched a drive against 1299 criminals on whom the government had announced reward, he said.
Addressing a public meeting in Ghaziabad on November 19 last year, chief minister Yogi Adityanath had said the criminals in the state will “either be sent to jail or killed in police encounters”. Also, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had sought a report from the UP chief secretary over the killing of the criminals in the police encounters.
When asked about the NHRC notice, Singh said the criminals had been killed only when they attacked the policemen. “Several policemen have been injured in the encounters as well,” he added.
When his attention was drawn toward the UP IPS Association demand for introduction of the police commissioner system in the state, Singh said he would take up the issue with the state government.
On threats issued by fringe groups to disrupt the screening of the movie Padmaavat, Singh said appropriate action would be taken at appropriate time.
“I will also take up the issue of the crime review meetings in the districts under the chairmanship of DMs with the higher authorities,” he said.
Spelling out his priorities, he said the idea was to create safe environment for the people, to provide security to the weaker sections, women, senior citizens and children.
“The force will try to satisfy the people with quick action and for that they will be made professional,” he said adding, the quality of crime investigation would be improved and the focus will also be on streamlining the movement of traffic to check road accidents.
Singh arrived in the state capital in the morning from Delhi and after offering prayer at Hanuman temple he visited police headquarter to assume charge.
Singh has vast experience in field policing as SP, DIG, IGP in various districts and zones. As the director general of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), he successfully handled major disasters like Jammu and Kashmir floods, Nepal earthquake, cyclone Hudhud and Chennai urban floods.
ON THREATS ISSUED BY FRINGE GROUPS TO DISRUPT THE SCREENING OF THE MOVIE PADMAAVAT, SINGH SAID APPROPRIATE ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN AT APPROPRIATE TIME
REVIEWING THE PERFORMANCE OF 35 WORST DIVISIONS, HE SAID ENGINEERS WHO HAD FAILED TO REDUCE LOSSES UNDER THEIR DIVISIONS SHOULD BE CHARGESHEETED