U.P. moving towards police state, violence being normalised, say retired cops
Retired senior police officers in Uttar Pradesh have criticized the state government's reliance on encounters and 'bulldozer' tactics, warning that these methods normalize violence. They argue that such heavy-handed policing threatens democratic norms and long-term social stability.
Why it matters
The critique from former high-ranking officials raises serious questions about the rule of law and the evolution of policing strategies in India's most populous state.
Amid the criticism by Opposition parties that the Uttar Pradesh government is working on the doctrine of a police state through heavy-handed security forces resorting to a bulldozer-centric approach in law and order and frequent encounters, two senior retired State police officers in the rank of Director General of Police (DGP) said such use of brute action will have long-term adverse consequences for the society at large.
In 2025 alone, 60,242 candidates were appointed in the State police. Appointments to 32,679 posts of police constable and equivalent positions are ongoing in 2026. The Opposition states that such a large number of appointments signal towards a pattern of police state.
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