LUCKNOW – Alarming incidents across Uttar Pradesh indicate a complete breakdown of law and order. From elected BJP leaders attacking civilians to criminals openly assaulting police personnel, the state’s governance has come under severe criticism, even as the Yogi Adityanath-led government insists that the rule of law remains intact, reported the Times of India.
Yadav and his friends were brutally assaulted by a BJP worker and his associates over a minor road dispute. When the victims took shelter inside Chakeri police station, the attackers followed and continued the assault right in front of law enforcement. Despite video evidence going viral, the accused not only avoided arrest but joined BJP supporters in protesting inside the police station by reciting Hanuman Chalisa.
On June 20, Babina MLA Rajeev Singh Pariksha reportedly assaulted a passenger aboard the Vande Bharat Express at Jhansi, forcing him to give up his reserved seat. The MLA and his men thrashed the man, while the Government Railway Police stood by silently. No FIR has been registered against the legislator.
Just meters away from the Chief Minister’s Office in Hazratganj, four intoxicated men stormed a police outpost and assaulted officers. In a related case, a woman slapped an officer inside the station — yet no action was taken, sparking frustration within the police force.
On June 15, a brawl over land erupted outside the Assistant Commissioner of Police’s office in Mohanlalganj. Despite being mere spectators at first, the police made arrests only after public backlash.
In another troubling case near Gomti Nagar, a girl chased a phone snatcher into the police station. The scuffle continued inside, but the police refused to intervene.
In Ghaziabad’s Muradnagar, Ravi Sharma was gunned down right outside the police station while lodging a complaint after his home was set ablaze. The killers shot him multiple times in full view of police officers. Protests erupted and three officers were suspended, but the killers remain at large.
Kalpita Sharma, daughter of a district official’s driver, was murdered in broad daylight in Hathras while shopping with her mother. The attackers have not been caught.
Legal and policing experts have sounded alarm bells. Advocate Lakhan Singh highlighted unchecked land and education mafias operating with political protection. Former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur blamed Yogi Adityanath’s centralized control and misuse of police for political ends, warning that public trust in law enforcement is rapidly eroding.
Critics have also pointed out that the lack of a permanent Director General of Police (DGP) is weakening the state’s police hierarchy. Since 2022, UP has had only acting DGPs. The latest appointment of Rajeev Krishna has further fueled dissent within IPS ranks, affecting morale and effectiveness.
As political interference deepens and police integrity deteriorates, citizens are increasingly left to fend for themselves. The image of Uttar Pradesh as a lawless state grows stronger with each incident of violence, inaction, and impunity.
