Uttar Pradesh top cop says will crack down on cow vigilantes

Uttar Pradesh police chief Sulkhan Singh on Saturday vowed to take action against “anyone indulging in vigilantism in the name of gau raksha” and said he has the backing of chief minister Yogi Adityanath to crack down on lawbreakers.

Singh took charge as the director general of police (DGP) on Saturday, a day after the Adityanath government transferred former police chief Javeed Ahmed and posted him as director general of the Provincial Armed Constabulary.

Singh’s appointment came in the backdrop of mounting criticism of the force’s alleged moral policing in the name of cracking down on people accused of stalking women. There were also allegations of police laxity in tackling growing incidence of vigilantism by self-styled cow protectors.

“Action will be taken on anyone indulging in vigilantism in the name of gau raksha or any thing else, no one has the right to intervene,” Singh, a 1980 batch IPS officer, said. “The police wil get a free hand in controlling crime and maintaining law and order with firmness and tact.” Singh said his priority would be ensuring unbiased policing “Those indulging in gundagard and criminal activities will be dealt without mercy. Even VIPS will not be spared.”

Singh said he has Adityanath’s instructions to act against al those who disobey law, “whoso ever they might be”, apparently a reference to criticism that police were going slow on members of the ruling BJP and affiliated groups.

Action will be taken against anyone indulging in vigilantism in the name of gau raksha or anything else, no one has the right to intervene.