New DGP, UP, Sulkhan Singh vows ‘Zero tolerance’ against cow vigilantism, ‘gundagardi’

Media reports that Sulkhan Singh who on Saturday took over as the new Director General of Uttar Pradesh. Addressing the press in Lucknow he said UP police would be impartial and would not tolerate vigilantism in the name of cow protection.

Sulkhan Singh, today took charge as the new Director General of Police in Uttar Pradesh.

Addressing the media after taking over from Javeed Ahmad, Singh vowed to crack down on "gundagardi" and said that his force will work with total impartiality.

"Anybody indulging in criminal activities will not be spared, whether from ruling party or not, we have strict orders from UP CM (Yogi Adityanath)", the new Uttar Pradesh DGP. Singh, who previously was the DG (Training), also promised a corruption-free police force and addresses the hot-button topics of vigilantism in the name of cow protection and Uttar Pradesh's recently instituted anti-Romeo squads.

Since the Modi regime took charge at the Centre (May 2014) and over the past weeks and months, especially since the Yogi dispensation in Uttar Pradesh (March 2017), there have been several incidents of alleged cow smugglers being assaulted in the country. Recently, a dairy farm owner was killed by self-proclaimed gau rakshaks in Rajasthan. Sulkan Singh today said that action will be taken against such vigilantes in Uttar Pradesh.

On anti-Romeo squads, which have come under criticism for harassing couples and for alleged moral policing, Singh said that the personnel on the squads will only act against people indulging in "objectionable behaviour."
What the DGP Said Today

1. Any person indulging in criminal activities will not be spared, whether from ruling party or not; these are the strict orders coming from Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.
2. No 'gundagardi' will be tolerated; it will be acted upon, Uttar Pradesh police will work with total impartiality. Uttar Pradesh police has zero tolerance towards corruption.
3. Police personnel on duty for anti-Romeo squads will act and take action only on people with objectionable behaviour.
4. Personnel in Plain clothes, but this does not mean that they will start needlessly questioning people. This will be reiterated in standing orders issued to the personnel.
5. Vigilantism will  Not be Tolerated: Action will be taken on anyone indulging in vigilantism in the name of Gau Raksha or anything else, no one has the right to intervene. Will not disclose complainant's name in such a case (of alleged vigilantism), but won't allow anyone to indulge in forceful behaviour.