Former DGP Brij Lal is chief of UP’s SC/ST commission

SUPER COP Image of an upright officer earned him the title of ‘super cop’ in the state police

LUCKNOW: The state government on Wednesday appointed Uttar Pradesh’s former director general of police (DGP) Brij Lal to the post of chairman, UP SC/ST Commission. “The state government has assigned me a big responsibility. I will work for the uplift of weaker sections of the society,” Lal said. Lal, a 1977-batch IPS officer, retired in 2014. During his service period, he led operations against several gangs and eliminated notorious criminals in encounters.

LUCKNOW:The state government on Wednesday appointed Uttar Pradesh’s former director general of police (DGP) Brij Lal to the post of chairman of UP SC/ST Commission.

“The state government has assigned me a big responsibility. I will work for the uplift of weaker sections of the society,” Lal said.

Incidents of atrocities on Dalits will be the biggest challenge for the new SC/ST Commission chief.

Recently, chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Ramashankar Katheria had expressed concern over inaction of the Uttar Pradesh police in cases related to Dalit atrocities and the inability of the state government to use funds allocated for the welfare of Dalits.

Lal, a 1977-batch IPS officer, retired from service in 2014.

During his service period, he led operations against several gangs and eliminated notorious

criminals in encounters.

The image of an upright officer earned him the title of ‘super cop’ in the state police.

As superintendent of police, Pilibhit, Brij Lal led an anti-terrorist operation when Sikh militants were trying to spread their base in Uttar Pradesh.

In 2009, he led an operation against dreaded dacoit Ghanshyam Kewat in Chitrakoot district of Bundelkhand region.

After a 50-hour encounter, Kewat was killed. Four policemen also lost their lives in the operation.

He surprised his political observers by joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as he was considered close to Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati.

When the BSP formed government in 2007, Lal was made ADG (law and order).

He was appointed DGP in October 2011.

He emerged as the Dalit face of the BJP that was trying to make inroads into BSP’s Dalit vote bank.

In 2017 state elections, the BJP captured majority of reserved assembly seats while the strength of the BSP was reduced to 19 in the legislative assembly.

Dalit scholar RK Gautam said, “In the run up to 2019 Lok Sabha election, Mayawati is working to regain hold over Dalit vote bank.

She also launched a scathing attack on the BJP terming it to be anti-Dalit.

BJP plans to counter Mayawati by projecting Brij Lal as the ‘messiah’ of Dalits.”

AS SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE, PILIBHIT, BRIJ LAL LED AN ANTITERRORIST OPERATION WHEN SIKH MILITANTS WERE TRYING TO SPREAD THEIR BASE IN UTTAR PRADESH.