In a significant announcement, Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Krishna stated that the state's flagship Mission Shakti initiative has led to a substantial 30% reduction in cases of molestation, domestic disputes, and abduction of girls over the past three months. He emphasized that true women's safety extends beyond just filing FIRs to proactive prevention.
Crime Prevention Through Community Engagement
Addressing the NBT–Times of India Police Pride Awards 2025 in Lucknow's Gomtinagar area, DGP Krishna outlined the core philosophy of Mission Shakti. He explained that the program focuses on crime prevention through sustained public awareness, early intervention, and community engagement.
"Preventing crime before it happens is the real success of policing," Krishna asserted. To achieve this, police teams have conducted extensive outreach, organizing chaupals and sensitization programs in nearly 70,000 villages and 24,000 urban localities across Uttar Pradesh. These efforts educate citizens about women's rights, legal remedies, and the serious consequences of criminal behavior.
The DGP highlighted that Mission Shakti centres have become a crucial support network for victims. They act as a bridge connecting the police with the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) and various welfare departments. This coordinated approach ensures victims receive free legal aid, counselling, medical assistance, and access to government schemes.
Cyber Policing Reforms and Massive Training Drive
Shifting focus to modern threats, DGP Krishna highlighted urgent reforms in cyber policing. He noted that financial losses from cyber fraud are now nearly three times higher than those from conventional crimes, making enhanced digital investigation capabilities imperative.
In response, the Uttar Pradesh Police has undertaken a massive capacity-building exercise. Nearly 40,000 police personnel have been trained in cyber investigation, digital forensics, and online fraud response. "Every police station in the state now has trained cyber staff. Victims no longer need to run from one office to another," Krishna stated.
This large-scale training has drastically improved response times, enabling authorities to swiftly freeze bank accounts linked to fraud and prevent further losses. As a result of this deployed trained manpower across districts, Uttar Pradesh has emerged as one of the leading states in cybercrime response and success in freezing fraudulent accounts.
Structural Reforms and Building Trust
Placing these achievements in a broader context, DGP Krishna credited the state's transformation to unprecedented structural and operational reforms undertaken over the past seven to eight years under the leadership and guidance of the Chief Minister. These efforts included breaking the backbone of organized crime and mafia networks.
The DGP also stressed the importance of recognizing positive police work through award ceremonies like the Police Pride Awards. He described this not as a symbolic gesture but as a strategic effort to build optimism, morale, and professionalism within the force while reinforcing public trust.
"When good work is acknowledged publicly, it inspires others within the force and reassures society that sensitive, citizen-centric policing is taking root," Krishna remarked. He concluded by thanking the media for providing platforms that highlight constructive and positive policing efforts.
