A circular issued by Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police, dated August 14, says that an analysis of records showed that crimes increased at night one week before “amavasya” (moonless night or new moon) in the “Krishna Paksha” (dark phase), as well as the week after it.

The order, a copy of which is with NewsClick, categorically states, “On analysing the incidents that happened in all the districts… of the state at the headquarters level, it was found that more incidents happen at night one week before and one week after the new moon date of the Hindu calendar. This analysis should be done every month at the level of senior police officers,” the circular, issued along with a copy of Panchang said.”

The circular said the new moon is set to occur on August 16, September 14 and October 14, and officers should remain alert a week before and after it.

A week before and a week after the date of ‘amavasya’, crime mapping should be done,” the circular said. It added that night patrolling should be carried out more “effectively”. To understand this better, a copy of Hindu ‘Panchang’ calendar is also attached along with this circular, the circular reads further.

“Effective crime prevention is one of the top priorities of the police. Through strong policing, an environment of security has to be established among the common citizens in the state. For this, it is necessary that night patrolling should be done more and more effectively, so that the general public can have a sense of confidence in their security,” it said.

The DGP asked police officers to identify crime hotspots and map criminal incidents during this period to formulate a plan to address these concerns. Kumar also directed the local police to design the route plan for Police Response Vehicles (PRV) in accordance with the crime incident analysis. Furthermore, the Crime and Criminal Tracking Network & Systems (CCTNS) and Dial 112 are to be on alert mode as per the circular’s instructions.

Meanwhile, the DGP’s order to curb crime as per Panchang has triggered a debate in the state.

Vibhuti Narain Rai, former Director General of Police, UP, told NewsClick that there was no need to mention the Hindu almanac in the circular.

“It is a fact that crime used to increase a week before Amavasya in the Krishna Paksha and a week after, as every night after a full moon day, the size of the moon keeps decreasing. When I was a police officer from 1978 to 1995, we also increased patrolling, especially in rural areas. The reason was that there was no road and electricity in rural areas and dacoities occurred in such areas. But now I haven’t heard of robberies as villages are connected with tar roads and power is supplied at night. It is foolish to talk about the Hindu Panchang. Maybe it was said to please a section,” he said.

Rai said the “DGP must have some data which prove his claims that crime increased at night one week before new moon as well as the week after it. Our country has progressed both in terms of structural changes (electricity and road).”

Former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer SR Darapuri said, “The police department conducts the crime mapping exercise for identifying areas from where maximum cases of theft, burglary, and robberies are reported. The police put a factor time, date and place while mapping and getting indications. Thereafter, an officer makes a policy to prevent crimes. It is a fact that the dark fortnight falls during amavasya and crime increases in that period but using the word, Panchang, does not make sense.”

Another former IPS officer, Amitabh Thakur, said it was clearly visible that for seven years since the advent of the current BJP government in UP, every worthy officer fears losing out in case the Chief Minister gets annoyed with him/her. This sounds like we are still living in some medieval era where superstition and mythologies rule the roost. In short, a section of officers is acting to please their political master and propelling his political agenda, completely intermixed with religious overtones.”

Courtesy: Newsclick

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New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has given Uttar Pradesh DGP until May 5 to submit a report in the alleged illegal detention of Dalit activists from Gujarat at Jhansi in 2017, Ahmedabad Mirror reported.
 
“The highest human rights body in the country advised the Director General of Police in UP to file a report regarding the incident on July 2, 2017, when 45 Dalit activists associated with Navsarjan Trust in Gujarat had been detained at Jhansi railway station while on their way to Lucknow to protest against UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath. They were sent back to Gujarat next day,” the report said.
 
A reminder to this effect had also been sent to the DGP earlier on December 20, 2018. However, no reply was filed. The NHRC has in continuation of the proceedings, sent another reminder on March 12 to the DGP and Chief Secretary of UP to submit a report of the incident.
 
The reminder came with a stern warning that in the ordinary course, the commission would have issued summons to the DGP to make a personal appearance. However, the NHRC was granting the police official one more opportunity to file a report in the matter. On July 13, 2018, Ahmedabad Mirror had reported that NHRC had directed the UP DGP to hand over probe of human rights violation in the case to Central Branch CID.
 
Navsarjan trust is Gujarat’s largest Dalit rights non-profit organisation. Martin Macwan, Dalit human rights activist and Founder-Member of the Navsarjan Trust released his book ‘Bhed-Bharat’ recently. Macwan is the editor of the book and it provides a searing account of atrocities against Dalits and Adivasis between the years 2014 and 2018.

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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.

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