Lucknow police chief admits to criminal-police nexus

Lucknow: Lucknow Senior Superintendent of Police Akhil Kumar has admitted to a thriving nexus between criminals and police personnel.

"It goes without saying that a number of criminals enjoy the patronage of policemen, some of whom were also understood to be on their payrolls", Kumar told IANS.

Kumar also does not deny that more often than not the victims are women and the poor, who are rebuked and abused for coming to the police with complaints.

While such an impression about Uttar Pradesh policemen was not new, the SSP has focussed his energies on this aspect after a campaign ordered by him against criminals failed to be effective.

All local circle officers and inspectors were asked to carry out raids and nab listed criminals in their respective areas. However, the drive ended in a damp squib. Apparently, tip-off about the raids were provided to the big criminals by the same policemen who were expected to nab them.

"As many as 134 raids were carried out almost simultaneously, but we ended up arresting only four small-time criminals. The bigwigs managed to give our raiding teams a slip," admitted a frustrated Kumar, who was entrusted with the state capital's charge by Chief Minister Mayawati.

Kumar claimed, "I have a free hand to act against criminals irrespective of their political affiliations."

Then, what prevented him from taking on the black sheep in uniform? "Lack of evidence," he said.

"No one is willing to give evidence against a corrupt policemen, who might otherwise be known for doing all the wrongs - be it nexus with criminals or misbehaviour with ordinary citizens," he said.

"I have been publicising my e-mail address as well my mobile number with an assurance that the identity of informers providing leads about rogues in uniform would be kept strictly confidential, yet people are not forthcoming," he added.

It is another matter that the publicised mobile number was either mostly "off" or on "divert" mode.

Having already drawn much flak for his ineffectiveness in curbing crime, Lucknow SSP chose to blame the common people. "Apparently, people are as much scared of raising their voice against crooks in the police as they are of criminals," he remarked.

Admitting rampant corruption in the police ranks, he feels that pinning down the rogues in uniform would be possible only when evidence is available against them.