The Enforcer: An IPS Officer’s War on Crime in India’s Badlands
In the heartland of Indian politics, where crime and power often walk hand in hand, former DGP of the Hindi heartland state Uttar Pradesh, Prashant Kumar, became the unflinching face of law enforcement in Uttar Pradesh. The Enforcer tells the gripping story of the IPS officer who came to embody the state’s iron fist in its war on crime.
From his early days in uniform to his rise as UP’s top cop, Prashant Kumar’s career spans high-stakes operations, communal flare-ups, and the brutal realities of crime control in one of India’s most complex states. Known for keeping calm under pressure, Prashant Kumar led countless operations against dreaded gangsters, cracked down on terror modules, and played a pivotal role in maintaining law and order during some of the state’s most fraught moments.
“Grateful to see my journey chronicled in The Enforcer. The book is more about many challenges, choices, and collective efforts that shaped policing in Uttar Pradesh. Readers will find it not just stories of enforcement, but reflections on duty, resilience, and public service,” Bihar-born, UP cadre supercop identified as bearer of a handlebar moustache, told The Pioneer.
Behind the headlines and encounters lies a story of strategic thinking, moral ambiguity, and walking a tightrope between the rule of law and political compulsions. The Enforcer dives deep into the machinery of Indian policing, tracing Kumar’s journey through shifting governments, public scrutiny, and the ever-present shadow of violence. This is not just the story of a policeman; it is a window into the making of modern-day state power. Author Anirudhya Mitra is a bestselling author, acclaimed screenwriter, and award-winning former journalist.
A former investigative journalist, Mitra is credited with breaking some of India’s most high-profile stories — from the Rajiv Gandhi assassination and Bofors scandal to the South Asian drug wars and the shadowy world of godmen and political fixers. Over the years, Mitra has transitioned from journalism to storytelling for the screen, having written original series for leading OTT platforms.
