Decisive approach to organised crime in UP

In a crackdown on crime, the Yogi Adityanath government, sticking to its ‘zero tolerance’ policy, has cracked down on notorious criminals and illegal activities across Uttar Pradesh with a ruthless approach.

The state Special Task Force (UP STF) has taken swift action against drug peddlers, arms smugglers, cyber criminals and the ‘nakal mafia’. In the last seven and a half years, over 7,000 notorious criminals have been arrested while 49 have been killed in encounters with police, in a major blow to organised crime in the state.

In addition, significant quantities of illegal weapons, narcotics, and prohibited animal skins and bones have been seized. The STF, through its intelligence network, has also thwarted over 559 criminal incidents before they could occur, further demonstrating its proactive approach.

ADG (STF) Amitabh Yash said that the special task force, in line with the directives of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, is conducting a continuous campaign to curb crime and arrest criminals across the state.

“In the last seven and a half years, the STF has arrested a total of 7,015 notorious and wanted criminals, with 49 criminals being killed during this period. All of them carried a reward of Rs 10,000 to Rs 5 lakh,” he said.

In addition, through heightened alertness and vigilance under the zero tolerance policy, more than 559 criminal incidents were prevented before they could occur. These included serious crimes such as kidnapping, robbery and planned assassination of public representatives, prominent figures and ordinary citizens. In addition, 3,970 organized criminals were also arrested during this period, the ADG added.

On the instructions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, the STF has taken action against 926 kingpins and paper solvers of 193 gangs in the last seven and a half years to eliminate exam-related malpractices like cheating and paper leaks. This has significantly increased the credibility of the Yogi government among the youth.

In addition, 379 cybercriminals involved in various cybercrimes were arrested.

In a separate campaign targeting illegal arms smuggling, the STF arrested 189 criminals and seized 2,080 illegal weapons and 8,229 illegal cartridges.

Moreover, the STF cracked down on liquor smuggling and arrested 523 smugglers involved in transportation of liquor from states like Punjab and Haryana. A total of 80,579 cartons of liquor, 330,866 litres of rectified spirit and 7,560 litres of manufactured liquor from the country were seized during these operations.

STF Deputy Superintendent of Police Deepak Singh said the agency arrested 1,082 persons involved in illegal drug trade and seized a large quantity of narcotics including 91,147.48 kilograms of ganja, 2,054,651 kilograms of charas, 19,727.1 kilograms of doda/poppy, 7.06 kilograms of morphine, 723,758 kilograms of smack, 21,521 kilograms of heroin, 181,012 kilograms of opium, 6.1 kilograms of brown sugar, 6,938 kilograms of mephedrone and 280,899 banned drugs. Vehicles used for transportation of these substances were also seized and appropriate legal action initiated.

In addition, the STF arrested 170 criminals from various gangs involved in poaching and smuggling of prohibited wildlife. The seizures included 341 kilograms of calipee tortoise, two pangolin shells, one tiger skin, 18 kilograms of tiger bone, two elephant tusks, 8,011 tortoises, 4,922 prohibited birds, one hyena skeleton, 20 gray langurs, one leopard skin, 4.12 kilograms of ambergris, four wild boar teeth, 563.1 kilograms of red sandalwood, 44 ivory items, 25 leopard teeth, 24 leopard nails, 110 jackal horns, 140 Indrajal plants, one tiger skeleton, one python and one snake. Vehicles, cash and other items used in these illegal activities were also seized.

During this period, the STF carried out a total of 2,670 commendable operations.