Garhwal mafia on Mayawati’s hit-list

Mayawati said the law and order situation in Garhwal had improved during the past two and a half months as compared to the crime scene in the region around the same time two years ago.

However, she added in the same vein that no action, whatsoever, had been taken by the police authorities against the land and forest mafia as also the hired criminals operating in the region.

The chief minister reiterated her government’s resolution to create a fearless society by eliminating crime from the state. Instructions had been issued to all the senior superintendents of police (SSPs) to take special steps to prevent incidents of looting, kidnapping and dacoity in their respective districts. “I have also instructed the Garhwal DIG to undertake an area-wise review of law and order situation in his range and send me the report each fortnight,” Mayawati said.

The chief minister disclosed that under the new ordinance issued by her government, it had become imperative on the station officers (SOs) to address a sufferer’s complaint the very day it was registered at the police station. “Even the SSPs would not be spared if any SO was found guilty of violating the ordinance,” Mayawati warned.

She categorically stated that she was “absolutely dissatisfied” with the performance of the officers engaged in the development work being undertaken in the Garhwal region. She disclosed that she had already placed four engineers, whose work was not found satisfactory during today’s review meeting, under suspension.

The suspended officials include, A K Sinha (Assistant Engineer serving with the Uttarkashi based co-operative society), S P Jain (Assistant Engineer, Jal Nigam, Tehri Garhwal) and the Chamoli and Dehra Dun superintendent engineers R K Jain and Y P Singh, respectively.