As senior IPS officer Rajeev Krishna formally takes over as the Director General of Police (DGP) of Uttar Pradesh from Monday, he faces a series of formidable challenges — from tackling the rising cases of illegal religious conversions and curbing Bangladeshi infiltrators to enhancing women’s safety and restoring public faith in police conduct.
The newly appointed DGP met Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday for a courtesy call, a day before assuming charge at the DGP headquarters. Following the meeting, Krishna expressed his gratitude on social media, saying, “I am deeply grateful to the Hon’ble Chief Minister for entrusting me with the vital responsibility of leading the state police. With his guidance and blessings, I am fully committed to advancing the Government’s priorities of zero tolerance against crime and corruption, strengthening women’s safety, promoting citizen-centric policing, and maintaining excellence in law and order.”
One of the immediate concerns for the new police chief is the increasing incidents of illegal religious conversions, particularly in the Terai belt of the state, which have drawn concern from both security agencies and the Government. In addition, the detection and deportation of Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals residing illegally in the state remains a tough task ahead.
While several other states have initiated crackdowns, Uttar Pradesh is yet to roll out a comprehensive strategy to deal with this issue. Another significant challenge lies in ensuring the peaceful conduct of the upcoming panchayat elections next year — a high-stakes exercise that will test the administrative and policing apparatus in rural regions.
Women’s safety remains a politically sensitive and critical issue, with the opposition frequently targeting the state government over rising crimes against women. Rajeev Krishna will be expected to intensify efforts on this front to counter criticism and restore public confidence.
CM Yogi Adityanath has also repeatedly flagged concerns about cattle smuggling and has directed the police to take decisive action against offenders. Krishna will be tasked with not only cracking down on such networks but also identifying and acting against police personnel with tainted records who may be complicit or negligent.
With his appointment, the state government hopes to reinvigorate the law enforcement machinery, particularly at a time when the state’s internal security is under the scanner. Rajeev Krishna, known for his clean image and experience in intelligence and policing, will now have to translate his vision into concrete outcomes across the state’s diverse and often volatile landscape.