Strict action against criminals, speedy justice to public our

priority: PC Piyush Mordia

Prayagraj, 30 July (HS): Prayagraj's newly appointed Police

Commissioner, Piyush Mordia, visited the Shri Mankameshwar Temple on Thursday,

the first day of the month of Shravan, to offer prayers to Lord Shiva. He

performed the ritualistic worship and prayed for happiness, prosperity, and

public welfare. After the worship, he met the temple's Mahant, Brahmachari

Shridharanand Maharaj, and received his blessings. The Mahant honored him with

a robe and wished him a successful tenure. After completing the religious

rituals, Piyush Mordia arrived at the Police Commissioner's office, where he

formally assumed the office of Police Commissioner. Upon assuming his duties,

he was welcomed by officers and employees of the police department. It is

believed that the new Police Commissioner will prioritize law and order, crime

control, and public hearings.

Newly appointed Police Commissioner Piyush Mordia,

addressing his first press conference in the auditorium at the Police Lines on

Thursday, stated that strengthening law and order in Prayagraj is his top

priority. He clarified that the police's zero-tolerance policy toward crime and

criminals will continue. Effective and result-oriented action will be taken

against organized crime, crimes against women, cybercrime, and traffic law

enforcement.

He stated that the police's objective is not only to take

action against criminals, but also to establish an environment of security and

trust among the public. To this end, police stations will ensure prompt and

fair redressal of complaints. Technology will be widely utilized to make

policing more transparent and accountable. The Police Commissioner added that

special campaigns will be launched to improve the city's traffic system.

Areas with traffic jams will be regularly reviewed, and

necessary instructions will be issued to the concerned officials. Special

emphasis will be placed on enhancing the capacity of cyber police and raising

public awareness to curb cybercrimes. Senior police officers from the

Commissionerate were also present during the press conference. The Police

Commissioner stated that the entire police team will work in coordination, and

every effort will be made to ensure the safety of citizens, law and order, and

improved policing.

Piyush Mordia, a 1998-batch IPS officer appointed as

Prayagraj's new police commissioner, has a distinguished record that includes

anti-Naxal operations in India's Red Corridor, law-and-order management during

the Covid-19 pandemic, and key security responsibilities for the Maha Kumbh

festival. The 56-year-old distinguished officer is also noted for combining

substantial field enforcement expertise with intellectual achievements, having

attended Harvard University. Mordia, a native of Rajasthan's Ajmer, belongs to

the Uttar Pradesh cadre and has over three decades of experience in local

policing, urban law enforcement, counter-insurgency operations, and strategic

leadership. His exceptional work has garnered him various awards, including the

President's Police Medal thrice.

One of the most defining periods of his career occurred

during his central deputation with the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF),

when he served as inspector general (central sector). He oversaw anti-Naxal

operations in the Red Corridor, notably in Chhattisgarh, as well as security

operations in the northeastern regions, earning valuable expertise combatting

left-wing extremism and handling difficult internal security problems.

Mordia returned to Uttar Pradesh and served as senior superintendent of police

(SSP) at Varanasi, Moradabad, Mainpuri, Bulandshahr, and Aligarh. His time at

Aligarh coincided with the Covid-19 epidemic, during which he oversaw law and

order management, the enforcement of pandemic restrictions, and public safety

measures during one of the most difficult moments in police.

His progress through the ranks culminated in his appointment

as Lucknow's joint commissioner of police (law and order), where he oversaw

policing, dealing with big protests, high-profile events, and the city's

changing security issues. He was then appointed Inspector General (IG) of the

Aligarh Range before becoming Additional Director General (ADG) of the Varanasi

Zone. In this post, he played a vital role in security planning and

law-and-order administration during the Prayagraj Maha Kumbh.

Beyond policing, Mordia is considered as one of the most intellectually

brilliant officers in the Indian Police Service. He has degrees in Bachelor of

Science (BSc), Bachelor of Laws (LLB), and Master of Business Administration

(MBA). He then earned a Master of Public Administration as an Edward S Mason

Fellow at the famous Harvard Kennedy School, where he focused on governance,

public policy, and leadership.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi