Earlier, UP had been notorious for being one of the dens for mafias and gangsters. These gangsters would hunt down innocent civilians, businessmen and government officials including law enforcers. But things have reversed completely after the advent of Yogi government in UP. While the encounter and bulldozer model has brought a frenzy in mafias, it is the gangster act that is giving nightmares to these hardened criminals.
Gangsters tasting the bitter medicine of Law
It is a fact that the main source of power for criminals was the illegal money they had amassed. That is why, the Yogi Adityanath-led administration has been pursuing a zero-tolerance policy towards crime in the state. The administration has been coming hard on the illegal properties of these criminals and according to one report of Dainik Bhaskar, the UP government has seized properties worth around 662 crores of these criminals in a short span of three months.
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From March 2022 to May 31, 2022, the biggest action in the state has been taken in the Meerut zone where Property worth ₹ 232 crore has been confiscated by the Police. In Sotiganj alone, the Police have confiscated property worth ₹ 106 crores from the illegal market indulging in vehicle theft and loot. Additionally, around 790 criminals have been booked in the gangster acts across the state.
Gangster Act breaking the backbone of crime syndicate in the state
Gangster Act is the one law under which bulldozers are razing illegal bungalows, houses, kothi, shops and illegal properties of the notorious gangsters. Section 14(1) of the act gives the authorities power to attach and raze these illegally amassed properties of dreaded criminals. The criminals may face a severe punishment of 10 years under this stringent law. Further, using this very law the authorities had shattered the illegal den of 22259 gangsters in the past 15 months only. In the same time frame, the Police had attached 1128 crore of movable and immovable properties.
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The positive change is visible
Earlier, the most populous state of India, Uttar Pradesh performed below its potential. The main reason for that was corrupt and incompetent state leadership. This gave a free hand and open ground for gangsters in the state. Because of this, the law and order was always a poll plank in the elections for the opposition. But things have reversed now under the determined leadership of Yogi Adityanath. As gangsters are either fleeing the state or surrendering before the authorities fearing the wrath of law or chance of being gunned down by the Police. The success of the Bulldozer model has forced other states including the opposition-led ones to adopt it.
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The stats on the seizure alone reflects the visible change in the law and order in the state. It is great to see that the government has acted tough on the root cause of these criminal acts that is their illegally amassed tonnes of money. The gangster act coupled with bulldozers demolishing these illegal properties has not only improved law and order situation in the state but also has freed the illegally occupied lands.