Ensure max punishment in crime against women, children: ACS

LUCKNOW: Additional chief secretary (Home) Awanish Kumar Awasthi on Sunday said police officers should take strict action against those involved in cases of crime against women and children.

Awasthi was reviewing the law and order situation through video conferencing with senior police officers posted in the divisions, zones, ranges and districts.

The officers should ensure that criminals charged in the cases of crime against women and children get the maximum punishment in court, he said. The punishment should create fear among criminals. The prosecution department has been directed to pursue cases in courts to ensure criminals get maximum punishment under the POCSO Act in cases of crime against children, he said.

In April, punishment was given to the accused in 190 cases under POCSO Act, 135 cases of crime against women and in 344 cases under the Arms Act.

Regular meetings of the monitoring committee at the district level should be held to review efforts to ensure maximum punishment to criminals, he said. Effective drive should be launched against mafia and criminals and charge sheet should be submitted in courts, he said.

Administrative and police officers in the districts should visit police stations and rural areas to assess the situation, he said, adding that they should also ensure that action is taken in a transparent manner. The officers should maintain vigil on social media, he said.

Owing to commendable efforts of police officers, the law and order situation in the state had improved and crime had been effectively controlled, Awasthi said.

The action taken against 50 mafia identified by the state government was being intensively reviewed at the government and police headquarters level. The officers should take strict action against the top mafias, he said.

The hearing of cases against the mafia and notorious criminals should be done through video conferencing. The state government is considering the matter that the officers should be also present during the hearing through video conferencing, he said.

Owing to commendable efforts of police officers, the lawand-order situation in the state has improved AWANISH KUMAR AWASTHI , Additional chief secretary (Home)

National Lok Adalat

The officers were directed to make serious efforts for disposal of the maximum cases on the basis of the conciliation in the National Lok Adalat to be held on May 14. In the previous Lok Adalat, Uttar Pradesh stood first in the country in the disposal of the cases, he said.