Early Times Report
Lucknow, Aug 1: In the past eight years, the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh has transformed the state from a haven of lawlessness into a model of governance anchored in the rule of law. By adopting a policy of zero tolerance towards crime, the government has not only restored public confidence, but also created an environment conducive to economic and social development, paving the way for increased investment.
Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh was widely regarded as a lawless state. Under the previous Samajwadi Party government, incidents of riots, communal violence, extortion, kidnapping, and crimes against women were rampant. The term “One District, One Mafia” reflected the stranglehold of organized crime across the state. Fear had gripped the common citizen — business owners, women, and families were forced to either live under constant threat or migrate to safer places. The infamous 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots further dented public trust in the state’s law enforcement system.
However, following CM Yogi Adityanath’s rise to power in 2017, the administration initiated a series of decisive actions to dismantle the criminal network that had taken root. Under his zero-tolerance policy, the state saw a surge in police action against gangsters, seizure of illegal properties, fast-tracked court trials, and crackdown on unlawful religious conversions and drug mafias. The result has been a sharp decline in criminal activity and a significant improvement in law and order.
Today, Uttar Pradesh is emerging as a safe, secure, and investor-friendly state. With fear eradicated from the lives of its citizens and criminals either behind bars or on the run, the state is undergoing a paradigm shift.
In the past eight years, the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has taken strict action against crime and criminals under its zero-tolerance policy. Over 240 dangerous criminals have been killed in police encounters. During this time, the police carried out more than 15,000 encounters, arresting over 30,000 criminals. More than 9,000 criminals were injured in these operations.
Following the Chief Minister’s instructions, the government also targeted the illegal properties of mafias and people involved in organized crime. Police and administrative teams ran joint operations and demolished properties worth crores of rupees using bulldozers. This broke the backbone of the mafia network and boosted public trust in the government.
In total, the police seized or destroyed illegal assets worth more than ₹14,200 crore over the past eight years. One example is from Prayagraj, where the illegal property of mafia don Atiq Ahmed was impounded and transformed into housing for the poor.
The Yogi government also focused on ensuring strict punishment through the courts. |
