lucknow

Updated: Apr 19, 2017 11:30 IST

The Uttar Pradesh police have identified 626 tainted cops who have links with mafiosi and criminal gangs. The majority of these cops are inspectors, sub-inspectors and constables.

Addressing a press conference in Lucknow on Tuesday, inspector-general (public grievances) Vijay Singh Meena said the tainted policemen were transferred.

DGP Javeed Ahmed had directed superintendents of police, DIGs (Range) and IGPs (Zone) to identify the tainted policemen as part of ‘operation clean-up’.

The list of tainted cops was compiled by eight zonal IGPs and dispatched to the DGP office on Monday and on Tuesday the state government issued transfer orders to them

“These policemen were posted in one district since long and had developed a nexus with local criminals. The state government has also ordered probe against these tainted cops. FIRs will be registered against them if evidence of their nefarious activities comes to light during probe,” Meena said.

Chief minister Yogi Adityanath had directed principal secretary, home, Debashish Panda and the DGP to take action against tainted cops and to launch a drive against criminal gangs. The state police have already launched a drive against mining, timber and transport Mafiosi and liquor smugglers and gun runners.

The policemen have also been told to bring about transparency in their working and be cordial with people visiting police stations to lodge complaints.