Yogi Adityanath's "New Uttar Pradesh": Transforming Law Enforcement Through Modern Forensic Science and Zero-Tolerance Crime Policy

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath declared on Tuesday that "New Uttar Pradesh does not accept crime," emphasizing that criminals who commit offenses like loot or snatching are typically found limping in jail within hours of their crimes.

"This is the 'New Uttar Pradesh' that does not accept crime. The criminals are made to realize that if they commit any crime, they will have to pay for it," Adityanath stated during the inauguration of the upgraded Regional Forensic Science Laboratory (RFSL) in Gorakhpur.

According to a government statement, Adityanath noted that the commissionerate system of policing had been requested since 1970 but was only implemented under his administration beginning in 2020. Currently, seven districts operate under this modernized policing system.

Since taking office in 2017, the BJP government has expanded municipal corporations to 17 and transformed Noida and Greater Noida into safe cities by connecting them to the Integrated Command and Control Centre. Over 13 lakh CCTV cameras have been installed throughout the state.

Adityanath praised the new six-story RFSL facility, built at a cost of Rs 72.78 crore, as a significant advancement in law enforcement capabilities.

He contrasted his administration's approach with previous governments, stating that while earlier administrations attempted to dismantle the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), his government strengthened it instead. Three women's PAC battalions have been established, named after historical female warriors: Veerangna Jhalkari Bai in Gorakhpur, Veerangna Uda Devi in Lucknow, and Veerangna Avanti Bai Lodhi in Budaun.

The Chief Minister highlighted the expansion of PAC battalions to five additional districts—Balrampur, Jalaun, Mirzapur, Shamli, and Bijnor—with funding allocated for modern police facilities in ten districts.

Adityanath credited improved law and order with boosting women's workforce participation from below 13% before 2017 to over 35% today, allowing women to work "without any fear or inconvenience."

"The days are over when victims wandered helplessly while criminals roamed free. Under its strict zero-tolerance policy, the state government has established a robust system for evidence collection and certification through modern forensic science labs, ensuring that no offender escapes accountability," he stated.

The Chief Minister emphasized that scientific investigation backed by advanced forensic facilities has created a reliable system where criminals cannot evade justice, enabling "accurate, swift, and transparent investigations" that provide timely justice to victims.

Adityanath noted the dramatic expansion of forensic infrastructure under his administration. Before 2017, Uttar Pradesh—India's most populous state—had only four forensic labs. Today, that number has grown to twelve, with six more under construction and plans for each commissionerate to have its own lab. Additionally, two mobile forensic vans have been deployed in every district to ensure prompt evidence collection.

He observed that prior to 2017, inadequate forensic facilities often allowed criminals to escape justice despite evidence collection. However, since the implementation of three new criminal laws under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership last July, forensic labs have become even more essential, with forensic investigation now mandatory for crimes carrying sentences exceeding seven years.

To create employment opportunities for youth, the UP State Institute of Forensic Science (UPSIFS) has been established in Lucknow, offering specialized courses for lab technicians, field evidence collectors, and forensic experts.

Adityanath described the upgraded Gorakhpur forensic lab as a "game-changer for modern policing," capable of conducting all major forensic examinations including ballistics, narcotics, serology, cyber forensics, DNA profiling, and document analysis, ensuring investigations that are faster, more accurate, and fully transparent.