OPINION | ENSURING RULE OF LAW IS YOGI'S BIG ACHIEVEMENT

The Special MP-MLA court in Prayagraj on Tuesday held gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and two others guilty in Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced all the three to life imprisonment. The court acquitted the remaining seven accused including Atiq’s brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf. On Monday, Atiq was brought in a police convoy to Naini jail after a 24-hour long, 1270 km journey by road from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat. There was apprehension that Atiq’s van could overturn and he could be killed in an encounter, but UP police took all care in bringing him to Naini jail. Mafia don Atiq Ahmed is no ordinary criminal. He is the symbol of that dark age in UP, when gangsters used to get political protection and carry out murders, kidnappings, land grab, and went scot-free. These gangsters held sway over large swathes of UP for nearly four decades, no matter which party was in power. It was difficult to find witnesses and evidence against them. Governments changed, but these mafia dons ruled the roost. Policemen used to fear them. It was Yogi Adityanath as chief minister, who put an end to their crimes and went about to uproot these gangsters. He took twin-fold action. He jailed these gangsters, and at the same time, cut off their income line and razed their illegal properties using bulldozers. You will be surprised to know that Rs 1,168 crore worth properties belonging to Atiq Ahmed have either been attached or razed. Such firm action broke the back of criminal mafia gangs in UP. Yogi did not spare even those who were providing support to these gangsters. Even their properties were razed using bulldozers. Such action has instilled fear in the minds of criminals and the common man’s faith in the system has been restored. 178 criminals were killed in encounters and more than 23,000 criminals were arrested. As a result, criminals feared entering UP. Hardcore criminal gangsters like Atiq Ahmed and Mukhtar Ansari, lodged in jails of other states, feared being brought to jail in UP. Such a sense of fear in the minds of mafia dons is good for the betterment of UP and its people. I think, driving fear in the minds of criminals is the biggest achievement of Yogi Adityanath.

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