Under attack from opposition parties over “deteriorating law and order” in the state, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday took a serious note of a series of killings in Prayagraj and shunted out Senior Superintendent of Police Atul Sharma in the morning and later suspended him.
The action came after three people were killed in Dhumanganj, one in Allahapur and a double-murder took place in Tharwai area of Prayagraj on Sunday.
According to official sources here, SSP (STF) Satyarthi Anirudh Pankaj has been made the new SSP of Prayagraj.
The Chief Minister took the decision to shift Atul Sharma after summoning DGP OP Singh to his residence on Monday morning and seeking clarification from him on the rising crime in the state.
Sharma was initially shifted from Prayagraj and attached to the DGP office and later suspended.
Earlier, in Prayagraj, two policemen, including an SHO, were suspended for dereliction of duties after the murders in three police station areas.
The government’s action also reportedly came as the opposition targeted the Yogi Adityanath government over law and order.
Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati launched a scathing attack on Yogi Adityanath and blamed him for the prevailing law and order situation in the state. She said due to the ‘jungle raj’ in the state everyone was feeling insecure.
Her remarks come in light of the murder of a journalist and his brother, who were shot dead in broad daylight in Saharanpur district on Sunday following a dispute over dumping of cow dung.
Reacting to the murders, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav tweeted, “After the murder of two brothers in Saharanpur, 6 murders in 12 hours in Prayagraj; Uttar Pradesh has become a ‘Hatya Pradesh’.’’
On Sunday, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra also criticised the Yogi Adityanath government and said, “What will you call a situation where murders are the new common thing. People responsible for controlling crime are busy hiding their failures and above all UP is crime free.”
Rubbishing opposition charges, BJP leader and government spokesman Shrikant Sharma said there was total control over organised crime in the state.
“Murders have taken place in some places due to enmity and stern action is being taken against those involved. No criminal is being patronised. Opposition is trying to malign the image of the government,” he said.
“In previous governments, criminals used to sit beside chief minister’s chair. Such talks does not suit them,” he added.
