Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Monday said that his government has adopted a "zero tolerance policy" towards criminals to instil a feeling of security among the common man and asserted that such elements were either sent behind bars or were eliminated in police action.
His remarks came after the opposition attacked the BJP government for the law and order situation in the state, days after the murder of Hindu outfit chief Kamlesh Tiwari.
Adityanath said after assuming charge as the chief minister in 2017, 96 criminals were killed in police action in different districts and 1,631 were injured.
"There is no organised criminal in the state who is roaming freely outside jail. Such criminals are either arrested and sent to jail or killed during police action when cops open fire in self-defence," he said during the 'police smriti diwas' parade here.
The government has adopted a "zero tolerance policy" towards criminals to instil a feeling of security among the common man, he said.
Adityanath said 96 criminals were killed in police action in different districts and 1,631 were injured.
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Besides, 10,252 criminals including 6,759 carrying reward, were also arrested.
"The police action has given a feeling of security to women, traders and girls among others," he said, adding 23,773 persons were arrested under the stringent Gangster's Act and their property worth over Rs 200 crores were seized.
The chief minister said, "Due to the fear in the minds of criminals, 16,895 of them got their bail cancelled and surrendered in courts," he said.
A person booked under the provisions of Gangsters Act becomes part of a gang listed in police records.
It entitles the police to keep track of those booked under the Act and issue summons to them for attendance at the local police station for questioning even if no fresh case has been lodged against them.
The Act also permits the police to seek remand of an accused for a maximum of 60 days as compared to a maximum 14-days remand under normal circumstances.
BSP president Mayawati on Monday alleged that ever since the BJP came to power in Uttar Pradesh, crimes have been increasing, making life miserable for the common man.
Noting that there was no "terrorist activity" his his regime, the chief minister said the Special Task Force of the state police coordinated with other agencies and arrested many terrorists and busted their sleeping modules.
The chief minister also met family members of policemen who lost their lives in the line of duty.