With a fortnight left for his retirement, DGP Jagmohan Yadav stirred up a storm in the cup claiming that cases of sexual assault happened even during the `Ram Rajya’. Yadav even blamed the youth for the rise in sexual crimes.
A press conference organised on Tuesday by the DGP to laud the UP Police for its efforts during the Panchayat elections in the state, suddenly went off the track as the media showered uncomfortable posers at the police chief.
When confronted with a pointed querry on why was there a spike in sexual crimes, the DGP indifferently quipped, “Ask the youths as to why rapes were on the rise.”
What is more, Yadav went a step ahead to defend the government on the issue claiming that sexual assaults took place even during `Ram Rajya’. “The spurt is evident now as victims do not hesitate to come forward and report the matter to the police. At the same time, the accused are also being punished,” said the DGP.
Admitting that law and order condition was poor in Pratapgarh despite posting several good officers, Yadav said that everyone knew the reason behind it obliquely referring interference of UP minister Raghuraj Pratap Singh aka Raja Bhaiya. Without taking name of the minister, the DGP said that one person was responsible for deteriorating law and order situation in Pratapgarh. “Why to you want to spell his name when you know the person responsible for the state of affairs uin the district,” quipped Yadav.
When asked if the present SP would be able to rein in the incidents of murder, attempts on life and loots in Pratapgarh, Yadav said that it was for the officer to take strong action and get shunted with pride or give in and dance to the tunes for a while then get shifted with infamy.
The DGP however assured that all cases of pre and post poll violence in Pratapgarh were being probed and stern action would be taken against the guilty.
Earlier, Yadav hailed the UP Police officers and personnel for conducting relatively peaceful Panchayat polls which was a ‘huge challenge’.
“Panchayat polls are more difficult than lok Sabha and Assembly polls as sometimes victory and defeat are separated by a single vote. Rivalry and clashes are off shoots of these polls which dares the law enforcing machinery. Now with gram pachayats having huge funds and resources, the polls often turn into a battle of attrition which makes it a difficult task to undertake. Besides, the poll results are often followed by new and renewed rivalries,” said the DGP.
Ironicall the DGP came up with rather conservative figures on death and casualties during violence in Panchayat polls putting the toll at a meagre 3. The fact remains that at least one murder due to poll rivalry was reported on daily during the entire polls, with half a dozen deaths reported on the day of counting last Sunday. When reminded of the series of killing, violence, kidnapping, rigging etc and suspension of several SPs for failing to ensuring free and fair polls, the DGP shied away from answering .